Mig-6 Knockout Mice and Elucidation of Association of Mig-6 With Early Onset Degenerative Joint Disease and Role As A Tumor Suppressor

ABSTRACT

The molecular mechanism underlying degenerative joint disease, also known as osteoarthritis (OA), is not fully understood. Disruption of mitogen inducible gene 6 (Mig-6) in mice by homologous recombination (KO mice) led to early onset OA as revealed by simultaneous enlargement and deformity of multiple joints, degradation of articular cartilage and the development of bony outgrowths or osteophytes within the joint space. The latter appeared to be derived from proliferation of mesenchymal progenitor cells followed by differentiation into chondrocytes. Because of the striking similarity to human OA, Mig-6 KO mice arc a useful animal model for studying the mechanism of this disease and for testing new drugs or therapies for treating OA. These KO mice also developed epithelial hyperplasia, adenoma, and adenocarcinoma in organs such as lung, gallbladder, and bile duct. Mig-6 is therefore a tumor suppressor gene and is a candidate gene for the frequent Ip36 genetic alterations found in lung cancer. It can be used as a tumor biomarker as well as a target for cancer therapy. Mig-6 is located in human chromosome Ip36, a locus frequently associated with human lung cancer. Mig-6 is a negative regulator of EGF signaling, and like EGF, was induced by HGF/SF in human lung cancer cell lines. Frequently the receptors EGFR and Met were co-expressed, and Mig-6 was induced by both EGF and HGF/SF in a MAPK-dependent fashion. Not all tumor lines express Mig-6 in response to either EGF or HGF/SF. In these cases, missense and nonsense mutations in the Mig-6 coding region were found, as was evidence for Mig-6 transcriptional silencing.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/917,557 filed Jun. 15, 2006, which is the U.S. National Phase of PCT Application Serial No. PCT/US2006/023257, filed Jun. 15, 2006, which claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/690,493, filed Jun. 15, 2005 and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/789,612 filed Apr. 6, 2006; each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention in the field of molecular biology and medicine is directed to knockout mice in which the mig-6 gene is disrupted resulting in animals which develop early-onset joint abnormalities characteristic of osteoarthritis and are highly susceptible to tumorigenesis of a number of types of cancer, primarily lung cancer. These animals serve as models for testing potential drugs and other therapeutic measures to prevent or treat osteoarthritis, and to delay or attenuate tumor development and growth in humans.

2. Description of the Background Art

Degenerative joint disease, or osteoarthritis affects nearly 12% of the United States population between the ages of 25 and 74 (Lawrence, R C et al. J. Rheumatol. 16:427-41, 1989), and greatly interferes with quality of life by causing acute and chronic pain and disability. The characteristic features of this disease are joint pain, stiffness, joint enlargement and mal-alignment, damage of articular cartilage, and formation of osteophytes or bony outgrowths at the margin of synovial and cartilage junction. Currently, therapy is directed towards controlling symptoms and no disease modifying, or chondroprotective treatment is available. In addition, the costs for pain relief medication are astronomical. Although several genetic and biomechanical factors including heredity, obesity, injury and joint overuse are thought to contribute to the development of osteoarthritis, the molecular mechanism underlying this disease is still elusive. For a comprehensive discussion of osteoarthritis, see, for example, Koopman, W. J., In: Arthritis and Allied Conditions, A Textbook of Rheumatology, 13^(th) Edition, Vol. 2 (Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, Md., 1997; Redneck, D., Diagnosis of Bone and Joint Disorders, 4^(th) Ed, Vol. 2 (WB Saunders Company, Philadelphia, Pa., 2002). Prior to the present invention, there was no known association between the Mig-6 gene and osteoarthritis.

Mig-6, also known as gene 33 or RALT (Florentine et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 20:7735-50, 2000; Making et al., J. Biol. Chem. 275:17838-47, 2000), has been mapped to human chromosome 1p36. Mig-6 is an immediate early response gene that can be induced by stressful stimuli and growth factors, as well as by the oncoprotein Ras (Florentine et al., supra; Making et al., supra; Tsoumada et al., Cancer Res. 62, 5668-71, 2002). Mig-6 protein can directly interact with all four members of the ErbB family, including EGFR and ErbB2-4, and it acts as a negative feedback regulator of the ErbB receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) pathway (Florentine et al., supra; Anastasia et al., Oncogene 22:4221-34, 2003; XII et al., J. Biol. Chem. 280:2924-33, 2005). Recently, it has been reported that down-regulated expression of the Mig-6 gene is observed in human breast carcinomas, which correlates with reduced overall survival of breast cancer patients (Matched et al., Cancer Res. 64:844-56, 2004; Anastasi et al., 2005). However, no mutations in Mig-6 have been detected in human breast carcinomas (Anastasi et al., Oncogene 24:4540-48, 2005). Indeed, no mutations have been reported in Mig-6 to date, and the role of Mig-6 in human lung, gallbladder, and bile duct carcinogenesis has not been assessed.

Allelic loss of chromosome 1p36 is among the most prominent genetic abnormalities observed in human lung cancer (Fujii et al., Cancer Res. 62:3340-46, 2002; Girard et al., Cancer Res. 60:4894-4906, 2000; Nomoto et al., Cancer 28:342-46, 2000), indicating that a critical tumor suppressor gene(s) exists in this locus. Moreover, loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of the distal region of mouse chromosome 4, a region syntenic with human chromosome 1p36, is also frequently observed in mouse lung carcinogenesis (Herzog et al., Oncogene 11:1811-15 1995; Herzog et al., Cancer Res. 62:6424-29, 2002). The p53 tumor suppressor gene homologue, p73, is located in 1p36, but no mutations have been identified in human lung cancers (Nomoto et al., Cancer Res. 58:1380-83, 1998), excluding it as the responsible tumor suppressor gene.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present inventors generated Mig-6 deficient mice and demonstrate here that Mig-6 is essential for normal joint maintenance and that loss of Mig-6 leads to early onset degenerative joint disease. The results disclosed herein provide (a) a better understanding the role of Mig-6 during mouse development and homeostasis, (b) a mouse model for studying degenerative joint disease and screening or testing drugs which prevent or ameliorate symptoms of such diseases, and (c) methods and compositions for treating early onset degenerative joint disease and related conditions that are influenced by the Mig-6 gene or its absence.

It is further disclosed herein that Mig-6, a gene located in human chromosome 1p36, one of the most frequent genetic alterations observed in human lung cancer, implicating the existence of a critical tumor suppressor gene(s), is mutated in certain human lung cancer cell lines and primary lung cancer. Disruption of Mig-6 in mice, in addition to the changes noted above, leads to the development of epithelial hyperplasia or cancer in the lung, gallbladder, and bile duct, providing evidence that Mig-6 is a tumor suppressor gene and a candidate gene for the frequent 1p36 genetic alterations found in lung cancer. Thus, Mig-6 is useful as a tumor marker as well, and appropriate manipulation of the expression of this gene and of the Mig-6 protein and the pathways which it influences serve as the basis for novel methods to prevent or treat the development of cancers influenced by this gene.

The present invention provides knockout mouse, the genome of which is manipulated to comprise a disruption of one or both alleles of the mig-6 gene, wherein when both alleles are disrupted, the mouse exhibits joint abnormalities characteristic of osteoarthritis as compared to a wild type mouse in which the mig-6 gene is not disrupted. The knockout mouse may be homozygous or heterozygous for the mig-6 gene disruption. The disruption prevents the expression of a functional Mig-6 protein.

In the above knockout mouse, the disruption of both alleles of the mig-6 gene further results in the mouse exhibiting increased tumorigenesis in the lung, gall bladder and/or bile duct compared to the wild type mouse.

In the above knockout mouse, the disruption preferably results from replacement of part of the mig-6 gene with a neo gene under control of a PGK-1 promoter.

The invention includes a conditional knockout mouse the genome of which is manipulated to comprise at least one mutant mig-6 allele that comprises, from 5′ to 3′, a first loxP site, a first FLP recombinase target (FRT) sequence, a lacZ DNA coding sequence, PGK-Neo cassette, a second FRT sequence, a human Mig-6 cDNA coding sequence and a second loxP site, such that when

-   (a) when a FLP recombinase is provided via a genetic cross with a     FLP recombinase-expressing mouse, the ends of the first FRT and the     second FRT are exchanged such that the LacZ and PGK-Neo sequence are     deleted and the human Mig-6 cDNA coding sequence is rescued; and -   (b) when a Cre-recombinase is provided via a genetic cross with a     Cre-expressing mouse, the Mig-6 coding sequence is deleted resulting     in the absence of Mig-6 cDNA.     The Cre recombinase is preferably under the control of a tissue     specific promoter, so that the deletion in (b) occurs in a     tissue-specific manner, thus making the knockout state a     tissue-specific one.

Also provided herein is a cell derived or isolated from the above knockout mouse or conditional knockout mouse. The cell is preferably a multipotent stem cell, a lineage-committed stem cell, a tumor or cancer cell, a chondrocyte, or a chondrocyte precursor.

The invention is also directed to a Mig-6 DNA knockout construct comprising a selectable marker sequence flanked by DNA sequences homologous to mig-6 genomic DNA, wherein when the construct is introduced into a mouse or an ancestor of a mouse at an embryonic stage, the selectable marker sequence disrupts the mig-6 gene in the embryonic cell and mouse that results in the mouse exhibiting (a) joint abnormalities characteristic of osteoarthritis and (b) enhanced tumorigenesis of lung, gall bladder and/or bile ducts.

The Mig-6 DNA knockout construct of claim 12, wherein the construct consists of, 5′ to 3′, (a) a first mig-6 genomic DNA fragment; (b) a neo cassette comprising a constitutive promoter; (c) a second mig-6 genomic DNA fragment which is 3′ from the first mig-6 genomic DNA fragment in murine mig-6 genomic DNA, and (d) optionally, a thymidine kinase cassette.

In a preferred The Mig-6 DNA knockout construct of claim 13, (a) the first mig-6 genomic DNA fragment is an approximately 5 kb polynucleotide most of which is located upstream of exon 2 in genomic DNA but includes at it's 3′ end a sequence from exon 2; preferably it is SEQ ID NO:19, (b) the constitutive promoter of the neo cassette is a PGK-1 promoter, and (c) a second mig-6 genomic DNA fragment is an approximately 3 kb polynucleotide located downstream of exon 4; preferably it is SEQ ID NO:20.

Also provided is a vector comprising any Mig-6 DNA knockout construct of the invention.

The invention includes a Mig-6 DNA conditional knockout construct comprising, in the 5′ to 3′ direction: (a) an approximately 5 kb mig-6 genomic DNA fragment most of which is located upstream of exon 2 in genomic DNA but includes at it's 3′ end a sequence from exon 2; (b) a first loxP site; (c) a first FRT sequence; (d) a lacZ DNA coding sequence; (e) a PGK-Neo cassette; (f) a second FRT sequence; (g) a human Mig-6 cDNA coding sequence; (h) a second loxP site; (i) a second mig-6 genomic DNA fragment that is an approximately 3 kb polynucleotide located downstream of exon 4; and (j) optionally an HSV thymidine kinase cassette.

The invention is also directed to a method of producing a heterozygous knockout mouse the genome of which comprises a disruption of the mig-6 gene, the method comprising the steps of (a) transforming a mouse embryonic stem cell with a knockout construct or vector according to any of claims 12-16, thereby producing a transformed embryonic stem cell; (b) introducing the transformed embryonic stem cell into a mouse blastocyst; (c) implanting blastocyst comprising the transformed embryonic cell into a pseudopregnant female mouse; (d) allowing the blastocyst to undergo fetal development to term; and (e) allowing the developed fetus to be born as the heterozygous knockout mouse, wherein the knockout mouse so produced exhibits, when the disrupted mig-6 is in a homozygous state, (i) joint abnormalities characteristic of osteoarthritis and (ii) enhanced tumorigenesis of lung, gall bladder and/or bile ducts.

The above method may further comprise (f) testing the mouse after step (e) to verify that its genome comprises a disrupted mig-6 gene in at least one allele.

The invention provides a method for producing a homozygous knockout mouse the genome of which comprises a disruption of the mig-6 gene, which mouse exhibits (i) joint abnormalities characteristic of osteoarthritis and (ii) enhanced tumorigenesis of lung, gall bladder and/or bile ducts, the method comprising: (a) interbreeding heterozygous mice produced in accordance with claim 18; and (b) selecting offspring in which the disruption of the mig-6 gene is homozygous.

In another embodiment, the invention is directed to a method for selecting a candidate agent for use in the treatment or prevention of osteoarthritis, comprising: (a) administering a candidate agent to a knockout mouse as above, wherein the disruption of mig-6 results in joint abnormalities characteristic of osteoarthritis; (b) measuring the response of the knockout mouse to the agent; and (c) selecting an agent based on its ability to decrease or prevent symptoms of osteoarthritis in the knockout mouse.

Also included is a method of determining whether a compound or agent prevents or treats symptoms of osteoarthritis, comprising: (a) administering a compound or agent to a knockout mouse whose genome is genetically modified to comprise a disruption of mig-6 gene, wherein the disruption causes the development of joint abnormalities characteristic of osteoarthritis (b) determining whether the compound prevents or treats the symptoms.

Also included is a method of determining whether a compound or agent prevents or treats symptoms of osteoarthritis, comprising: (a) administering a compound or agent to the knockout mouse of any of claims 1-8, and (b) determining whether the compound prevents or treats the symptoms.

The invention provides a method for evaluating the effect of a test agent or treatment for its ability to delaying development of or treat a human tumor or cancer, comprising (a) administering the test agent to, or performing the treatment on, the knockout mouse of any of claims 1-8; (b) evaluating the time of appearance, rate of development, growth, or metastasis of tumors in the mice compared to the knockout mice not given the agent or treatment; (c) comparing results obtained in step (b) to the time of appearance, rate of development, growth, or metastasis of tumors in the knockout mice which have not been given the agent or treatment, wherein a significant delay in appearance, attenuation of development, growth or metastasis of the tumors in (b) compared to (c) indicates that the agent or treatment has the ability to delay development or treat the tumor or cancer.

In the above method, the human tumor or cancer is preferably carcinoma, most preferably lung carcinoma.

In the above method, the tumors being evaluated in the mice are preferably lung tumors, gall bladder tumors or bile duct tumors.

A method for detecting a structurally or functionally abnormal mig-6 gene in a subject, the method comprising detecting in a sample of cells, tissue or nucleic acid from the subject (a) the presence of a mutation in the coding sequence of the mig-6 gene; (b) a decrease or absence of expression of the mig-6 gene; (c) increased expression of the mig-6 gene secondary to downstream blockade in a signalling pathway in which Mig-6 is a participant; (d) the presence of a mutation or decreased activity in a promoter of the mig-6 gene; or (e) abnormal methylation of at least a part of the mig-6 gene thereby detecting a structurally or functionally abnormal mig-6 gene.

In the above method the presence of an abnormal mig-6 gene indicates that the subject has increased susceptibility to the development of any disease or condition associated with decreased or absent mig-6 function, compared to a subject with a structurally or functional normal mig-6 gene, such as increased susceptibility to the development of osteoarthritis and/or increased susceptibility to the development of cancer, such as carcinoma of the lung, gall bladder or bile duct.

When the mutant mig-6 gene is characterized as a point mutation, a deletion or truncation, or a translocation, it is detected by sequencing of at least a portion of the mig-6 gene. Preferably this is done after the nucleic acid of the sample is subjected to RT-PCR. For this PCR, the following primers are preferred:

[SEQ ID NO: 8] (a) forward prime 5′-TCTTCCACCGTTGCCAATC-3′; [SEQ ID NO: 9] (b) reverse primer 5′-TTCCACCTCACAGTCTGTGTCAT-3′; and [SEQ ID NO: 10] (c) TaqMan Probe 5′-CTGAAGCCCTCTCTCT-3′.

The above method may be used to examine and detect a subject who is heterozygous or homozygous for the mutant mig-6 gene.

To test expression of the mig-6 gene is detected, hybridization to a nucleic acid microarray is a preferred method. Expression of the mig-6 gene may be detected by measuring the presence or quantity of the Mig-6 protein in the sample, for example using an antibody, by method that include ELISA and Western blots or any other conventional immunoassay.

The invention provides a method for detecting a structurally or functionally abnormal mig-6 gene in tumor from subject, the method comprising detecting in a sample of tumor cells, tissue or nucleic acid from the tumor: (a) the presence of a mutation in the coding sequence of the mig-6 gene (b) a decrease or absence of expression of the mig-6 gene; (c) an increase in expression of the mig-6 gene secondary to downstream blockade in a signalling pathway in which Mig-6 is a participant; (d) the presence of a mutation or decreased activity in a promoter of the mig-6 gene; or (e) abnormal methylation of at least a part of the mig-6 gene thereby detecting a structurally or functionally abnormal mig-6 gene in the tumor.

In this method, one or more cells lines may be produced from the tumor prior to the detecting, and the detecting carried out on the cell line or lines.

In the above method for detecting a structurally or functionally abnormal mig-6 gene in a subject, the subject is preferably a human.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A-1C. Targeted disruption of Mig-6 gene. (A) Diagram of strategy for targeting Mig-6 locus. E, EcoRV; X, XhoI. (B) Southern Blot analysis and PCR-based genotyping. A 7.8 kb fragment for the wild-type allele and 6 kb fragment for the mutant allele was detected from EcoRV and XhoI double digested genomic DNA by hybridization with probe A (left panel). The PCR-based genotyping (right panel) detected a 360-bp DNA fragment from wild type allele (p1 & p2 primer pair) and a 800-bp DNA fragment from the mutant (disrupted) allele (p2 & p3 primer pair). (C) Elimination of Mig-6 expression in Mig-6⁻⁻ mouse tissues. Total RNAs isolated from the liver and thymus of Mig-6^(+/+), Mig-6^(+/−) and Mig-6^(−/−) mice were subjected to Northern Blot analysis hybridized with mouse Mig-6 cDNA probe. The β-actin serves as internal control.

FIG. 2A-2P. Disruption of Mig-6 results in multiple joint deformities and fibrocartilagenous hyperplasia. Adult skeletons of 4 months old mice were stained with alizarin red and photographed under microscope. Representative images of ankle (A and D), knee (B and E) and temporal-mandibular joints (C and F) derived from Mig-6^(+/+) (A-C) and Mig-6^(−/−) (D-F) mice are shown. H&E staining was performed on knee joint sections prepared from 1.5 months (G and J), 3 months (H and K) and 6 months (I and L) Mig-6^(+/+) (G-I) and Mig-6^(−/−) (J-L) mice. The abnormal nodules outgrowing within Mig-6^(−/−) knee joints (J-L) are indicated as “nod”. Scale bar: 100 μm. Identical results were observed in Mig-6^(−/−) mice derived from another independent ES clone (not shown).

FIG. 3A-3E. Mig-6^(−/−) mutant joints display multiple characteristic pathological features of osteoarthritis. (A) Bony outgrowth or osteophyte formation. Mason's Trichrome staining for collagens (blue color) or Safranin O staining for proteoglycans (red color) was performed on knee joint sections prepared from a 3 months old Mig-6^(−/−) mouse. Arrows indicate the abnormal outgrowing nodules that have abundant collagen and proteoglycan. Von Kossa staining of calcium deposition was performed on non-decalcified knee joint section prepared from a 5.5 months old Mig-6^(−/−) mouse. Arrowheads indicate matrical calcium in the inner zone of the nodules. (B) Degradation of articular cartilage. Arrows indicate rough joint surface and degraded articular cartilage in a 4 months old Mig-6^(−/−) knee joint stained with Safranin O. (C) Subchondral cyst formation. Two large cysts filled with or without fibroblast like cells are observed beneath degraded articular cartilage in a 3 months old Mig-6^(−/−) knee joint as indicated by the arrowheads. (D) Synovial hyperplasia. H&E knee joint sections were prepared from 2 months old age-matching Mig-6^(−/−) and Mig-6^(−/−) mice. Compared to a thin layer of synovial lining in Mig-6^(−/−) joint (normal), multi-layers of synovial lining cells (Sy) are observed in Mig-6^(−/−) joint. (E) Vascularization in avascular joint region. Various sizes of blood vessels indicated by arrows are observed in 4 months old Mig-6^(−/−) knee joint, accompanied by newly repaired tissues.

FIG. 4A-4F. Changes of proteoglycan distribution are observed in articular cartilage of late-stage Mig-6^(−/−) mutant joint. Safranin O staining was performed on knee joint sections prepared from litters of 1.5 months (A-C) and 3 months (D-F) old Mig-6^(+/+) (A, D), Mig-6^(+/−) (B, E) and Mig-6^(−/−) (C, F) mice. A lack of proteoglycan staining in the articular cartilage surfaces of patella and femur was observed in 3 months old Mig-6^(−/−) mutant joint (F). Instead, the proteoglycan positive zones are shifted to deeper regions (F). No obvious difference of proteoglycan staining was observed in 1.5 months old joints. nod: nodule; pa: patella.

FIG. 5. Bony outgrowths are derived from proliferation of mesenchymal like progenitor cells. Knee joint sections were prepared from a 3 months old Mig-6^(−/−) mouse, and immunohistochemically stained by anti-PCNA or anti-collagen type II antibodies. The spindle-shaped mesenchymal like cells at the edge of the bony nodule display PCNA-positive staining (brown color), while no PCNA-positive cells were observed in the inner zone of the bony nodule. Different from PCNA staining pattern, only a narrow zone of chondrocytes between the PCNA-positive cells and the well differentiated chondrocytes in the deeper zone display collagen type II staining (brown color). PCNA positive cells are also observed in areas where articular cartilage has been degraded and replaced by newly formed tissues (arrow). The photos in the bottom panel are higher magnification images taken from the fields indicated in the top panel. nod: nodule; ar: articular cartilage.

FIG. 6A-B. Absence of Rag2 does not rescue the joint phenotype of Mig-6^(−/−) mice. (A) Crossing scheme for generating double knockout (“KO”) mice. The litters derived from intercrossing Mig-6^(+/−)Rag2^(−/−) mice were used for analyzing the joint phenotype. (B) Representative images of knee joints were photographed from H&E sections prepared from 4.5-month old Mig^(+/+)Rag2^(−/−) and Mig-6^(−/−)Rag2^(−/−) mice, respectively. The age-matched Mig-6^(+/−)Rag2^(−/−) joint appeared normal (data not shown). nod: nodule.

FIG. 7. Detection of Mig-6 Expression in mouse joint. RT-PCR was performed using total RNA prepared from whole knee joint (lanes 1 and 2) or liver (lanes 3 and 4) derived from Mig-6^(+/α) (lanes 1 and 3) or Mig-6^(−/−) (lanes 2 and 4) mice. Arrows indicate the amplification of Mig-6 and GAPDH, respectively. GAPDH serves as internal control. M: DNA ladder.

FIG. 8A-8D: Mig-6 expression is regulated by EGF and HGF/SF through the MAP kinase pathway in human lung cancer cells. FIG. 8A shows the expression of Mig-6, EGFR, and Met proteins in human lung cancer cell lines. Whole cell extracts were prepared from lung cancer cell lines and subjected to western blot analyses probed with anti-Mig-6, anti-EGFR, and anti-Met antibodies. The β-actin serves as an internal control for visualizing the amount of protein loaded in each lane. FIG. 8B shows up-regulation of Mig-6 by EGF. The cell lysates derived from HOP62 cells with or without EGF (50 ng/ml) treatment for the indicated times were subjected to western blot analysis using anti-Mig-6 antibody. FIG. 8C shows up-regulation of Mig-6 by HGF/SF. EKVX cells were treated with HGF/SF (200 units/ml) for the indicated times, followed by western blot analysis. FIG. 8D shows that the MAPK pathway mediates EGF- and HGF/SF-induced Mig-6 expression. HOP62 and EKVX cells were treated with U0126 or LY294002 for 1 h, respectively, followed by EGF (50 ng/ml) or HGF/SF (200 units/ml) treatment for additional 4 h, respectively. Cells treated with DMSO were used as controls. Western blotting was performed as described above.

FIG. 9A-9C: The regulation of Mig-6 expression by EGF or HGF/SF is defective in NCI-H226 cells. FIG. 9A shows that EGF failed to induce Mig-6 protein expression in NCI-H226 cells. EKVX, NCI-H322, and NCI-H226 cells were serum-starved and then treated with EGF (50 ng/ml) for the indicated times. At each time point, the cell lysates were prepared and subjected to western blot analyses using the indicated antibodies. FIG. 9B shows that induction of Mig-6 protein by HGF/SF was not detected in NCI-H226 cells. Serum-starved NCI-H226 and HOP62 cells were treated with HGF/SF (200 units/ml) for the indicated times. Western blotting was performed as described above using the indicated antibodies. FIG. 9C shows that EGF failed to induce Mig-6 mRNA transcription. NCI-H322 and NCI-H226 cells were serum-starved overnight and treated with EGF (50 ng/ml) at the indicated times. At each time point, RNA was isolated and subjected to northern blot analysis with a [³²P]-labeled Mig-6 probe. As a control, GAPDH was also analyzed.

FIG. 10A-10C: Identification of Mig-6 mutations in human lung cancer cell lines and primary lung cancer. FIG. 10A shows that the Mig-6 gene is mutated in the NCI-H226 and NCI-H322M non-small cell lung cancer cell lines. The upper panels show the wild-type sequences and the lower panels show the mutant sequences in Mig-6. The arrows mark the mutated nucleotides derived from the two cell lines. FIG. 10B shows the identification of a heterozygous germline mutation of Mig-6 in one primary lung cancer. The top panel shows the wild-type sequence, the middle panel shows the mutant sequence in Mig-6 derived from the primary lung cancer tissue, and the lower panel shows the sequence derived from the normal control tissue from the same patient. The arrows indicate the mutated nucleotide. FIG. 10C is a schematic representation of the Mig-6 genomic structure, the protein, and indicates the location of the identified mutations.

FIG. 11A-11H: Mig-6 deficiency in mice causes lung carcinogenesis.

FIG. 11A shows the normal lung of a 1-year-old Mig-6^(+/+) mouse.

FIG. 11B shows the normal lung of a 1-year-old Mig-6^(+/−) mouse.

FIG. 11C shows a representative image showing the bronchi and bronchiole epithelial hyperplasia observed in the lung of a 9-month-old Mig-6^(−/−) mouse.

FIG. 11D shows proliferation of round cells in the alveoli of Mig-6^(−/−) lung (1 year old).

FIG. 11E shows development of lung adenomas in a Mig-6^(−/−) mouse (9.5 months old). The adenoma has distinct borders and a monomorphic population of alveolar/bronchiolar cells. Note shows this mouse had two adenomas on two different lobes.

FIG. 11F is a higher magnification of the image in the square shown in FIG. 11E.

FIG. 11G shows development of lung adenocarcinoma in an 8.5-month-old Mig-6^(−/−) mouse. The large early alveolar/bronchiolar carcinoma shows an indistinct border and central necrosis with cholesterol clefts.

FIG. 11H is a higher magnification of the image in the square shown in FIG. 11G.

FIG. 12A-12C: Gallbladder and bile duct cancers in Mig-6-deficient mice. FIG. 12A shows gallbladder hyperplasia in a Mig-6^(−/−) mouse. H&E sections of gallbladders derived from age-matched (2 months) Mig-6^(+/−) and Mig-6^(−/−) mice are shown. FIG. 12B shows bile duct adenocarcinoma in a Mig-6⁻⁻ mouse. Bile duct sections derived from 10-month-old Mig-6^(+/−) and Mig-6^(−/−) mice are shown. FIG. 12C shows hyperproliferation of epithelial cells in Mig-6^(−/−) gallbladder. The sections of gallbladder tissues (as shown in FIG. 12A) were immunohistochemically stained with anti-PCNA antibody. The brown-stained cells are PCNA-positive.

FIG. 13 shows a strategy for generating animals of a conditional Mig-6 knockout/rescue mouse strain carrying LacZ reporter and for obtaining mice with a Mig-6 gene that can be conditionally deleted by crossing with animals carrying a tissue-specific Cre recombinase. The following abbreviations are used in this Figure: E1-E4-exons 1-4 in the genomic structure of Mig-6; FRT-FLP recombinase target sequence; SA-splice acceptor; SV40pA-SV40 polyA region; pA-polyA region linked to of Mig-6 cDNA.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

According to the present invention, mechanical joint stress constitutively stimulates joint regeneration by inducing certain growth factors such as transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and other cytokines that stimulate proliferation and differentiation of cells required for joint renewal. Under normal conditions, this regenerative activity in the joint is counter-balanced by a suppressor activity of Mig-6 that fine-tunes the extent of proliferation and renewal. Losing the suppressive function of Mig-6 results in over-proliferation of mesenchymal progenitor cells that leads to an abnormal state of chondrogenic differentiation and bony outgrowth (FIG. 5), which are typical osteoarthritic pathologies.

The profound osteoarthritic phenotype of Mig-6 deficient mice make them a very useful model for (1) determining what factors in the Mig-6 signaling pathway are involved in osteoarthritis; (2) understanding the molecular mechanism underlying this disease process; and (3) testing drugs or therapies which may help to alleviate the symptoms or alter the disease progression of osteoarthritis.

The present inventors have also discovered that the Mig-6 gene is mutated in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines such as NCI-H226 and NCI-H322M, as well as in one primary human lung cancer. Loss of Mig-6 function can result from dysregulation of its expression by RTK signaling. To this end, several? animals in which Mig-6 was disrupted by gene targeting developed epithelial hyperplasia as well as adenoma or adenocarcinoma in the lung, gallbladder, and bile duct. These outcomes indicate that Mig-6 is a candidate tumor suppressor gene. The gene or its encoded protein can serve as a biomarker as well as a target for antitumor therapy.

DEFINITIONS

“Gene targeting” is a type of homologous recombination that occurs when a fragment of genomic DNA is introduced into a mammalian cell and that fragment locates and recombines with endogenous homologous sequences.

A “knockout mouse” (or “KO mouse”) is a mouse in the genome of which a specific gene has been inactivated by the method of gene targeting. A knockout mouse can be a heterozygote (i.e., one defective/disrupted allele and one wild-type allele) and a homozygote (i.e., two defective/disrupted alleles). “Knockout” of a target gene means an alteration in the sequence of the gene that results in a decrease or, more commonly, loss of function of the target gene, preferably such that target gene expression is undetectable or insignificant. A knock-out of an Mig-6 gene means that function of the Mig-6 gene has been substantially decreased or lost so that Mig-6 expression is not detectable (or may only be present at insignificant level)_(s). The term “knockout” is intended to include partial or complete reduction of the expression of at least a portion of a polypeptide encoded by the targeted endogenous gene (here mig-6) of a single cell, a population of selected cells, or all the cells of a mammal.

KO mice of the present invention include “conditional knockouts” (described in more detail below) in which, by inclusion of certain sequences in or surrounding the altered target, it is possible to control whether or not the target gene is rendered nonfunctional. This control can be exerted by exposure of the animal to a substance that promotes target gene alteration, introduction of an enzyme that promotes recombination at the target gene site (e.g., Cre in the Cre-lox system), or any other method that directs or controls the target gene alteration postnatally. Conditional knock-outs of Mig-6 gene function are also included within the present invention. Conditional knock-outs are transgenic animals that exhibit a defect in Mig-6 gene function upon exposure of the animal to a substance that promotes target gene alteration, introduction of an enzyme that promotes recombination at the target gene site (e.g., Cre in the Cre-loxP system), or other method for directing the target gene alteration. For example, an animal having a conditional knock-out of Mig-6 gene function can be produced using the Cre-loxP recombination system (see, e.g., Kilby et al. 1993 Trends Genet 9:413-421). Cre is an enzyme that excises the DNA between two recognition sequences, termed loxP. This system can be used in a variety of ways to create conditional knock-outs of Mig-6. For example, in addition to a mouse in which the Mig-6 sequence is flanked by loxP sites a second mouse transgenic for Cre is produced. The Cre transgene can be under the control of an inducible or developmentally regulated promoter (Gu et al. 1993 Cell 73:1155-1164; Gu et al. 1994 Science 265:103-106), or under control of a tissue-specific or cell type-specific promoter (e.g., a pancreas-specific promoter or brain tissue-specific promoter; see below). The Mig-6 transgenic is then crossed with the Cre transgenic to produce progeny deficient for the Mig-6 gene only in those cells that expressed Cre during development.

A “marker gene” serves as a selectable marker that facilitates the isolation of rare transfected cells from the majority of treated cells in the population. A non-comprehensive list of such markers includes neomycin phosphotransferase (neo), hygromycin B phosphotransferase, xanthine/guanine phosphoribosyl transferase, herpes simplex thymidine kinase (TK), and diphtheria toxin

By “construct” is meant a recombinant nucleic acid molecule, generally DNA, that has been generated for the purpose of the expression of a specific nucleotide sequence(s), or is to be used in the construction of other recombinant nucleotide sequences.

The term “knockout construct” refers to a nucleotide sequence that is designed to undergo homologous recombination with the endogenous targeted gene to disrupt it and thereby decrease or suppress expression of a polypeptide encoded by the targeted gene in one or more cells of a mammal, preferably a mouse. The nucleotide sequence used as the knockout construct is typically comprised of (1) DNA from some portion of the targeted endogenous gene (which may include part or all of one or more exon sequences, intron sequences, and/or promoter sequences) and (2) a selectable marker sequence used to detect the presence of the knockout construct in the cell and which serves as a basis for selecting cells carrying the disrupted recombined sequence. In the present invention, the knockout construct is inserted into a cell that comprises the endogenous mig-6 gene that is to be knocked out. The knockout construct can integrate with one or both alleles of the endogenous mig-6 gene, which results in the transcription of the full-length endogenous mig-6 gene being disrupted or prevented. Integration of the Mig-6 knockout construct of the present invention into the chromosomal DNA preferably takes place via homologous recombination. This requires that regions of the Mig-6 knockout construct are homologous or complementary to endogenous mig-6 genomic DNA sequences so that the construct, after insertion into a cell, can hybridize to the genomic DNA. This permits recombination between the construct and the genomic DNA leading to incorporation of the knockout construct into the corresponding position of the genomic DNA).

Typically, the knockout construct is inserted into an undifferentiated cell termed an embryonic stem cell (ES cell). ES cells are usually derived from an embryo or blastocyst of the same species as the developing embryo into which it can be introduced, as discussed below

The terms “disruption of the gene”, “gene disruption”, “suppressing expression”, and “gene suppression”, refer to insertion of a Mig-6 nucleotide sequence knockout construct into a homologous region of the coding region(s) of the endogenous mig-6 gene and/or the promoter region of this gene so as to decrease or prevent expression of the full length Mig-6 protein in the cell. Preferably, a knockout construct comprises an antibiotic resistance gene which is inserted into the Mig-6 genomic DNA that is to be disrupted. When this knockout construct is inserted into an ES cell, the construct integrates into the genomic DNA of at least one Mg-6 allele, which is referred to as “transformation” or “transduction.”. Progeny cells of the of the transformed cell will no longer express Mig-6, or will express it at a decreased level and/or in a truncated or other mutated form, as the endogenous coding region of Mig-6 is now disrupted by the antibiotic resistance gene. As noted elsewhere, a preferred antibiotic resistance gene is the neo gene under control of a PGK-1 promoter.

The “marker sequence” or “selectable marker” is a nucleotide sequence that is (1) part of a larger knockout construct and is used to disrupt the expression of Mig-6, and (2) used as a means to identify and, more importantly, to positively select those cells that have incorporated the Mig-6 knockout construct into the chromosomal DNA. The marker sequence may be any sequence that serves these purposes, and typically is encodes a protein that confers a detectable/selectable trait on the cell, such as an antibiotic resistance gene or an assayable enzyme not naturally found in the cell. The marker sequence typically includes homologous (same species) or heterologous (different species) promoter that drives expression of the marker.

The terms “rodent” and “rodents” refer to all members of the phylogenetic order Rodentia including any and all progeny of all future generations derived therefrom. The term “murine” and “mouse” refers to any and all members of the family Muridae, primarily mice.

The term “progeny” refers to any and all future generations of animals derived or descendant from a particular progenitor mammal, preferably a KO mammal, most preferably a KO mouse in which the mig-6 gene has been disrupted (whether heterozygous or homozygous for the disruption). Progeny of any successive generation are included herein such that the progeny, the F₁, F₂, F₃, generations and so on indefinitely comprising the disrupted gene (with the knockout construct) are included in this definition.

By “Mig-6 associated disorder” is meant a physiological state or pathological condition or disease associated with altered Mig-6 function (e.g., due to aberrant, Mig-6 expression, usually underexpression, or a defect in Mig-6 expression or in the Mig-6 protein). Such Mig-6 associated disorders can include, but are not necessarily limited to, disorders associated with reduced or absent Mig-6 protein resulting in a phenotype characterized by joint abnormalities characteristic of human osteoarthritis and/or increased susceptibility to tumorigenesis, particularly of carcinomas, such as lung, gall bladder and bile duct cancer.

As noted above, the invention also provides a method for screening, testing and selecting agents for possible use in the prevention, attenuation or treatment of any disease or disorder associated with abnormalities in the structure or function of the mig-6 gene. Such diseases include, but are not limited to, osteoarthritis and cancer. The potential therapeutic or preventative agents are selected on the basis of whether there is a statistical significance between test response of the knockout mouse of the invention to which the agent is administered compared to a control KO mouse which are not treated, or treated with control agent (such as the vehicle only).

Mig-6 nucleotide and amino acid sequences in mice and humans are described below.

Mouse Mig-6 coding sequence  (SEQ ID NO: 15) (including an italicized, underscored stop codon which is not counted in the nt number) atg tca aca gca gga gtt gct gct cag gat att cga gtc cca tta aaa   48 act gga ttt ctc cat aat ggt cag gcc ttg ggg aat atg aag tcc tgc   96 tgg ggc agt cac agt gag ttt gaa aat aac ttt tta aat att gat cca  144 ata acc atg gcc tac aat ctg aac tcc cct gct cag gag cac cta aca  192 act gtt gga tgt gct gct cgg tct gct cca ggg agc ggc cac ttc ttt  240 gca gag tgt ggt cca tct cca agg tca agc ttg ccc cct ctt gtt atc  288 tca cca agt gaa agc tcg gga cag cgt gaa gag gat caa gtt atg tgt  336 ggt ttt aag aaa ctc tca gtg aat ggg gtc tgc act tcc aca cct cca  384 ctt aca ccc att aaa agc tgc cct tcc cct ttc ccc tgt gcg gct ctg  432 tgt gat cgg ggt tct cgg ccg ctc ccg cca ctg ccc atc tct gaa gac  480 cta tgt gtg gat gag gcc gac agt gag gta gag ctt cta acc acc agc  528 tca gac aca gac ttg ctt tta gaa gac tct gcg cct tca gat ttc aaa  576 tac gat gct cct ggc agg cgc agc ttc cgt ggg tgc ggc cag atc aac  624 tat gca tat ttt gac agc cca act gtt tct gtg gca gat ctt agc tgt  672 gca tct gac cag aac aga gtt gtt cca gac cca aac cct ccc cca cct  720 caa agc cat cgc aga tta agg agg tct cac tca gga cca gct ggg tca  768 ttt aac aag cca gcc att cgg ata tct agc tgc aca cac aga gct tct  816 cct agc tct gat gaa gac aag cct gag gtc cct ccc agg gtt cct ata  864 cct cct agg cca gca aag cca gac tat aga cgg tgg tca gca gaa gtg  912 acc tcc aac acc tac agt gat gaa gat agg cct ccc aaa gtc ccc ccg  960 aga gaa cct ttg tct cgg agt aac tcc cgt acc cca agt cct aaa agc 1008 ctt ccg tct tac ctc aat ggg gtc atg ccc cca aca cag agc ttc gct 1056 cct gac ccc aag tat gtc agc agc aaa gcc ctg cag aga cag agc agc 1104 gaa gga tct gcc aac aag gtt cct tgc atc ctg ccc att att gaa aat 1152 ggg aag aag gtt agc tca acg cat tat tac tta cta cct gag agg cca 1200 ccg tac ctg gac aaa tat gaa aag tat ttt aag gaa gca gaa gaa aca 1248 aac cca agc acc caa att cag cca tta cct gct gcc tgt ggt atg gcc 1296 tct gcc aca gaa aag ctg gcc tcc aga atg aaa ata gat atg ggt agc 1344 cac ggg aag cgc aaa cac tta tcc tac gtg gtt tct cca  taa          1383 Mouse Mig-6 Amino Acid Sequence  (SEQ ID NO: 16) MSTAGVAAQD IRVPLKTGFL HNGQALGNMK SCWGSHSEFE NNFLNIDPIT MAYNLNSPAQ  60 EHLTTVGCAA RSAPGSGHFF AECGPSPRSS LPPLVISPSE SSGQREEDQV MCGFKKLSVN 120 GVCTSTPPLT PIKSCPSPFP CAALCDRGSR PLPPLPISED LCVDEADSEV ELLTTSSDTD 180 LLLEDSAPSD FKYDAPGRRS FRGCGQINYA YFDSPTVSVA DLSCASDQNR VVPDPNPPPP 240 QSHRRLRRSH SGPAGSFNKP AIRISSCTHR ASPSSDEDKP EVPPRVPIPP RPAKPDYRRW 300 SAEVTSNTYS DEDRPPKVPP REPLSRSNSR TPSPKSLPSY LNGVMPPTQS FAPDPKYVSS 360 KALQRQSSEG SANKVPCILP IIENGKKVSS THYYLLPERP PYLDKYEKYF KEAEETNPST 420 QIQPLPAACG MASATEKLAS RMKIDMGSHG KRKHLSYVVS P                     461 The above two murine sequences were obtained from the Gene Bank database, Accession #BC005546

Human Mig-6 DNA coding sequence  (SEQ ID NO: 17) (including an italicized, underscored stop codon which is not counted in the nt number) atg tca ata gca gga gtt gct gct cag gag atc aga gtc cca tta aaa   48 act gga ttt cta cat aat ggc cga gcc atg ggg aat atg agg aag acc   96 tac tgg agc agt cgc agt gag ttt aaa aac aac ttt tta aat att gac  144 ccg ata acc atg gcc tac agt ctg aac tct tct gct cag gag cgc cta  192 ata cca ctt ggg cat gct tcc aaa tct gct ccg atg aat ggc cac tgc  240 ttt gca gaa aat ggt cca tct caa aag tcc agc ttg ccc cct ctt ctt  288 att ccc cca agt gaa aac ttg gga cca cat gaa gag gat caa gtt gta  336 tgt ggt ttt aag aaa ctc aca gtg aat ggg gtt tgt gct tcc acc cct  384 cca ctg aca ccc ata aaa aac tcc cct tcc ctt ttc ccc tgt gcc cct  432 ctt tgt gaa cgg ggt tct agg cct ctt cca ccg ttg cca atc tct gaa  480 gcc ctc tct ctg gat gac aca gac tgt gag gtg gaa ttc cta act agc  528 tca gat aca gac ttc ctt tta gaa gac tct aca ctt tct gat ttc aaa  576 tat gat gtt cct ggc agg cga agc ttc cgt ggg tgt gga caa atc aac  624 tat gca tat ttt gat acc cca gct gtt tct gca gca gat ctc agc tat  672 gtg tct gac caa aat gga ggt gtc cca gat cca aat cct cct cca cct  720 cag acc cac cga aga tta aga agg tct cat tcg gga cca gct ggc tcc  768 ttt aac aag cca gcc ata agg ata tcc aac tgt tgt ata cac aga gct  816 tct cct aac tcc gat gaa gac aaa cct gag gtt ccc ccc aga gtt ccc  864 ata cct cct aga cca gta aag cca gat tat aga aga tgg tca gca gaa  912 gtt act tcg agc acc tat agt gat gaa gac agg cct ccc aaa gta ccg  960 cca aga gaa cct ttg tca ccg agt aac tcg cgc aca ccg agt ccc aaa 1008 agc ctt ccg tct tac ctc aat ggg gtc atg ccc ccg aca cag agc ttt 1056 gcc cct gat ccc aag tat gtc agc agc aaa gca ctg caa aga cag aac 1104 agc gaa gga tct gcc agt aag gtt cct tgc att ctg ccc att att gaa 1152 aat ggg aag aag gtt agt tca aca cat tat tac cta cta cct gaa cga 1200 cca cca tac ctg gac aaa tat gaa aaa ttt ttt agg gaa gca gaa gaa 1248 aca aat gga ggc gcc caa atc cag cca tta cct gct gac tgc ggt ata 1296 tct tca gcc aca gaa aag cca gac tca aaa aca aaa atg gat ctg ggt 1344 ggc cac gtg aag cgt aaa cat tta tcc tat gtg gtt tct cct  tag      1386 Human Mig-6 Amino Acid Sequence  (SEQ ID NO: 18) MSIAGVAAQE IRVPLKTGFL HNGRAMGNMR KTYWSSRSEF KNNFLNIDPI TMAYSLNSSA  60 QERLIPLGHA SKSAPMNGHC FAENGPSQKS SLPPLLIPPS ENLGPHEEDQ VVCGFKKLTV 120 NGVCASTPPL TPIKNSPSLF PCAPLCERGS RPLPPLPISE ALSLDDTDCE VEFLTSSDTD 180 FLLEDSTLSD FKYDVPGRRS FRGCGQINYA YFDTPAVSAA DLSYVSDQNG GVPDPNPPPP 240 QTHRRLRRSH SGPAGSFNKP AIRISNCCIH RASPNSDEDK PEVPPRVPIP PRPVKPDYRR 300 WSAEVTSSTY SDEDRPPKVP PREPLSPSNS RTPSPKSLPS YLNGVMPPTQ SFAPDPKYVS 360 SKALQRQNSE GSASKVPCIL PIIENGKKVS STHYYLLPER PPYLDKYEKF FREAEETNGG 420 AQIQPLPADC GISSATEKPD SKTKMDLGGH VKRKHLSYVV SP                    462 The above two human sequences were obtained from the Gene Bank database, Accession #NM_(—)018948

PGK-Neo is a hybrid gene consisting of the phosphoglycerate kinase I promoter driving the neomycin phosphotransferase gene (resulting in neomycin resistance). This is a widely used cassette employed as a selectable marker for homologous recombination in embryonic stem ES cells.

For embryonic stem (ES) cells, an ES cell line may be employed. ES cells are typically selected due to their ability to integrate into and become part of the germ line of a developing embryo so as to create germ line transmission of the knockout construct. Thus, any ES cell line that is believed to have this capability is suitable for use herein. Thus, examples of suitable ES cell lines to be used according to the invention are the murine ES cell lines GS1-1 (previously BWE4) (Incyte Genomics, Inc. Palo Alto, CAUSA) and R1 (Lunenfeld Research Institute, Mt. Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Other murine ES cell lines known to the skilled man in the art may also be used. As an alternative to ES cells, embryonic cells may be obtained freshly from a host, e.g. mouse, rat, guinea pig, etc.

ES or embryonic cells are typically grown on an appropriate fibroblast-feeder layer or in the presence of appropriate growth factors, such as leukemia inhibiting factor (LIF). When ES cells have been transformed, they are used to produce transgenic animals. After transformation, the cells are plated onto a feeder layer in an appropriate medium. Cells comprising the construct may be detected by employing a selective medium, in the present case, medium with neomycin (or G418). After sufficient time has passed for colonies to grow, colonies are picked and analyzed for the occurrence of homologous recombination/integration of the knockout construct. Those colonies that are positive may then be used for embryo manipulation and blastocyst injection.

Methods used for cell culture and preparation for DNA insertion are well-known in the art, for example, as set forth in any of the following references: Robertson, E J, In: Teratocarcinomas and Embryonic Stem Cells: A Practical Approach, E J Robertson, ed. IRL Press, Washington, D.C. (1987); Bradley et al., Current Topics in Devel. Biol. 20:357-371 (1986); Hogan et al., Manipulating the Mouse Embryo: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (1986); and Talts, J F et al., Meth. Mol. Biol. 129:153-187 (1999).

Each knockout construct DNA to be inserted into the cell must first be linearized if the knockout construct has been inserted into a vector. Linearization is accomplished by digesting the DNA with a suitable restriction endonuclease selected to cut only within the vector sequence and not within the knockout construct sequence. Insertion of the knockout construct into ES cells is accomplished using a variety of well-known methods including for example, electroporation, microinjection, and calcium phosphate treatment In a preferred embodiment, the method of insertion is electroporation. See references cited above. If the cells are to be electroporated, the ES cells and knockout construct DNA are exposed to an electric pulse using an electroporation machine and following the manufacturer's guidelines for use. After electroporation, the cells are allowed to recover under suitable incubation conditions. The cells are then screened for the presence of the knockout construct.

Screening for the presence of the knockout construct can be done using a variety of methods. Where the selection marker gene is an antibiotic resistance gene, the cells are cultured in the presence of an otherwise lethal concentration of antibiotic. Those cells that survive have presumably integrated the knockout construct. If the selection marker gene is other than an antibiotic resistance gene, a Southern blot of the ES cell genomic DNA can be probed with a sequence of DNA designed to hybridize only to the marker sequence. Finally, if a marker gene is a gene that encodes an enzyme whose activity can be detected, such as β-galactosidase, the enzyme substrate can be added to the cells under suitable conditions, and the enzymatic activity analyzed.

To properly identify and confirm those cells with proper integration of the knockout construct, the DNA can be extracted from the cells using standard methods such as those described in Sambrook, J. et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 3^(rd) Edition, Cold Spring Harbor Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., 2001. Brent, R et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2003; Ausubel, F M et al., Short Protocols in Molecular Biology, 5^(th) edition, Current Protocols, 2002). The DNA may then be probed on a Southern blot with a probe or probes designed to hybridize in a specific pattern to genomic DNA from, in this case, the ES cells digested with (a) particular restriction enzyme(s). Alternatively, or additionally, the genomic DNA can be amplified by PCR with probes specifically designed to amplify DNA fragments of a particular size and sequence (see Examples), where only those cells containing the knockout construct in the proper position will generate DNA fragments of the proper size.

Injection/Implantation of Embryos

After suitable ES cells containing the knockout construct in the proper location have been identified, the cells are inserted into an embryo. Insertion may be accomplished in a variety of ways, however a preferred method is by microinjection. For microinjection, about 10-30 cells are collected into a micropipette and injected into embryos that are at the proper stage of development to integrate the ES cell into the developing embryo. Blastocysts are typically obtained from 4 to 6 week old superovulated females.

The suitable developmental stage for the embryo is species-dependent, about 3.5 day old embryos (blastocysts) in mice. These embryos are obtained by perfusing the uterus of pregnant females using conventional methods. While any embryo of the right age/stage of development may be used, it may be preferable to use male embryos from strains of mice whose coat color is different from the coat color of the ES cell donor (or strain of origin. This facilitates screening for the presence of the knockout construct in mice with mosaic coat color (indicative of incorporation of the ES cell into the developing embryo).

The selected ES cells are trypsinized, and injected into the blastocoel of the blastocyst. After injection, the blastocysts are returned to the uterine horns of pseudopregnant females. While any foster mother may be used, those preferred are selected for their past breeding ability and tendency to care well for their young. Preferred foster mothers are used when about 2-3 days pseudo-pregnant. Pregnancies are allowed to proceed to term and birth of pups. The resulting litters are screened for mutant cells comprising the construct.

Screening for Presence of Knockout Genes in the Non-Human Mammal

If a coat color selection strategy has been employed, offspring born to the foster mother may be screened initially for mosaic coat color. In addition, or as an alternative, DNA taken from e.g., tail tissue of the offspring may be screened for the presence of the knockout construct using Southern blots and/or PCR as described herein. Another suitable way of screening for the presence of knockout genes is immunoprecipitation

Offspring that are shown to carry the knockout construct in their germ line are then intercrossed to generate homozygous knockout animals. If it is unclear whether the offspring has the KO gene in its germ line, they can be crossed with a parental or other strain and the offspring screened for heterozygosity. The heterozygotes are identified by Southern blots and/or PCR amplification of the DNA, as set forth above. The heterozygotes can then be intercrossed to generate homozygous knockout offspring. Probes to screen the Southern blots can be designed as set forth in herein.

Other means of identifying and characterizing the knockout offspring are available. For example, Northern blots can be used to probe the mRNA from the mouse for the presence or absence of transcripts encoding either the gene knocked out, the selectable marker gene, or both. Western blots can be used to assess the level of expression of the knocked out gene in various tissues of these offspring by probing the employing antibody against the Mig-6 protein

In situ analysis, such as fixing tissue or blood cells from the knockout mouse, and labelling with antibody and/or flow cytometric analysis of various cells from the offspring may be conducted. This method works well with suitable anti-Mig-6 antibodies.

Uses of Knockout Non-Human Mammals

The knockout mice of this invention and cells obtained therefrom have a variety of uses described above. A preferred use of the KO mouse and its progeny is as a model for development of osteoarthritis. Another use of the present KO mouse and its progeny is as a model that exhibits enhanced tumorigenesis.

The present KO mouse/mice may used to screen an agent for activity in preventing, inhibiting, alleviating or reversing symptoms associated with osteoarthritis or in preventing, delaying tumorigenesis or treating tumors that develop. Such an agent may be a chemical compound, a drug, a macromolecule such as a nucleic acid (DNA, RNA, PNA), a polypeptide or fragments thereof; an antibody or fragments thereof; a peptide, such as an oligopeptide; or a mixture of any of the above. Also, the agent may be a mixture of agents obtained from natural sources, such as microorganisms, plants or animals.

Screening a series of agents for its activity as a potentially useful drug involves administering the agent over a range of doses to the Mig-6 KO mice, and evaluating the status of the mice with respect to the development of joint abnormalities characteristic of osteoarthritis or development or progression of tumors

Conditional Mig-6 Knockout/Rescue Mice

As noted herein, early deaths of the Mig-6 null mice (presumably due primarily to severe joint disease) makes it difficult to investigate the role of this gene in other tissues or organs such as lung, liver or kidney (that express moderate to high levels of Mig-6 protein). Since neoplasia of lung and other tissues were observed in conventional Mig-6 knockout mice (see Examples IV-VIII), the production of conditional knockout mice will allow detailed investigation of the role of Mig-6 in particular tissues and organs.

The present invention provides an approach to conditionally delete Mig-6 in a specific organ or tissue like lung or kidney by crossing Mig-6 conditional knockout mice with mice that carry a tissue-specific Cre transgene. This approach avoids the problems of early death, enabling analysis of the role of Mig-6 in those organs over a prolonged period (which period is critical for tumor development in the absence of a tumor suppressor gene).

Creation of conditional KO mice is well-known in the art. See, for example, the following published U.S. patent applications: 2004/0045043, 2004/0241851, 2006/0064769, and references cited therein. For applications of this approach to tumor-related studies, see, for example, Jackson, E L et al., Genes Devel. 15:3243-48 (2001); Forrester, E et al., Cancer Res. 65:2296-2302 (2005)).

The approach of the present invention described below is novel because it uses human Mig-6 to rescue mouse Mig-6 under the supposition that human Mig-6 functions in a manner similar enough to murine Mig-6 for such rescue to occur.

The present approach to conditional Mig-6 KO technology is illustrated in FIG. 13. The “Wild type” allele at the top depicts the normal gene structure of Mig-6 (genomic DNA) which comprises four exons (E1-E4). E2 through E4 include the entire coding region of Mig-6. Other abbreviations are found in the description of FIG. 13.

The best-known site-specific DNA recombinase is the Cre recombinase, a product of λ or P1 phages in E. coli and which is used in combination with the loxP recognition site. Cre recombinase of the P1 bacteriophage belongs to an integrase family of site-specific recombinases that is expressed in mammalian and other eukaryotic cell types (Saur et al. (1988) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85:5166-5170, (1989) Nuc. Acid. Res. 17:147-161, (1990) New Biol. 2:441-449). Cre recombinase is a 34 kDa protein that catalyzes recombination between two of its recognition sites called loxP. The loxP site is a 34 base pair consensus sequence consisting of a core spacer sequence of 8 base pairs and two flanking 13 base pair palindromic sequences. One of the key advantages to this system is that there is no need for additional co-factors or sequence elements for efficient recombination regardless of cellular environment. Recombination occurs within the spacer area of the loxP sites. The post-recombination loxP sites are formed from the two complementary halves of the pre-recombination sites. The result of the Cre recombinase-mediated recombination depends on the location and orientation of the loxP sites. When an intervening sequence is flanked by similarly oriented loxP sites, as in the present invention, Cre recombinase activity results in excision. Cre/loxP recombination can be used at a high efficiency to excise a transgene in vivo (Orban et al. (1992) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89: 6861-6865). See also, Nagy A., 2000, Cre recombinase: the universal reagent for genome tailoring, Genesis 26:99-109; Lomeli H et al., 2000, Genesis 26:116-7; Hardouin N and Nagy A 2000, Genesis 26:245-52). This system has also been used for tissue-specific expression/excision: prostate (Maddison L A et al., 2000, Genesis 26:154-6); hepatocytes (Imai T et al., 2000, Genesis 26:147-8; Kellendonk C et al., 2000, Genesis 26:151-3); differentiating chondrocytes (Ovchinnikov D A et al., 2000, Genesis 26:145-6); pancreas (Gannon M, et al., 2000, Genesis 26:139-42 and 143-4); muscle (Miwa T et al., 2000, Genesis 26:136-8); epidermis (Berton T R et al. 2000, Genesis 26:160-1); brain, nervous system and retina (Dragatsis I et al., 2000, Genesis 26:133-5; Furuta Y et al., 2000, Genesis 26:130-2; Niwa-Kawakita M et al., 2000, Genesis 26:127-9).

More recently, the FLP-FRT system (see, for example, Dymecki, S, 1996, Proc. Nat'l. Acad. Sci. 93:6191-6) has become more commonly used, primarily in work with mice. It is similar to the Cre-Lox system in many ways, involving the use of “flippase” (FLP) recombinase, derived from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and native to the 2 micron plasmid resident in these yeast cells (Utomo A R et al., 1999. Nat Biotechnol 17:1091-96.). In lieu of loxP sites, FLP recognizes a pair of FLP recombinase target (“FRT”) sequences flanking the genomic region of interest. As with loxP sites, orientation of the FRT sequences dictates inversion or deletion events in the presence of FLP recombinase.

Both Cre and FLP alter the arrangement of DNA sequences in very specific ways. The FLP recombinase is active at a particular 34 base pair DNA sequence, termed the FRT (FLP recombinase target) sequence. When two FRT sites are present, the FLP enzyme creates double-stranded DNA breaks, exchanges the ends of the first FRT with those of the second target sequence, and then re-attaches the exchanged strands. This process leads to inversion or deletion of the DNA which lies between the two sites. Whether an inversion or deletion occurs depends on the orientation of the FRT sites: if the sites are in the same orientation, the intervening DNA is deleted, but if the sites are opposite in orientation, the DNA is inverted. The FLP recombinase is used as a negative selectable marker for experiments to replace genes by homologous recombination.

As described in FIG. 13, to construct the indicated targeting vectors, a 5 kb genomic DNA fragment upstream of E2 and a 3 kb genomic fragment downstream of E4 are inserted into pPNT vector. A cassette which carries lacZ reporter gene, PGK-Neo and human Mig-6 cDNA flanked by loxP and FRT sequences is inserted between the two genomic fragments. The SA (“splice acceptor”) site contains fragments of intron 1 and exon 2 and serve as a splicing acceptor after homologous recombination.

ES clones are established by electroporation of linearized targeting vector and selection in neomycin. HSV-TK is used for negative selection. The “mutant allele” shows the genomic structure after homologous recombination. Mice homozygous at this step display the same phenotypes as conventional Mig-6 knockout mice, except that the lacZ reporter replaces Mig-6 expression and can be visualized by routine methods such as staining with 5-bromo-4-chloro-2-indolyl-β-D galactoside (“Xgal”).

The derived knockout mouse is crossed with a transgenic mouse carrying Flippase (FLP) recombinase which recognizes FRT sequences. At this stage (“rescued allele”), the lacZ reporter and PGK-Neo are deleted, and the human Mig-6 is transcribed. The human Mig-6 rescues the phenotypes present in the conventional Mig-6 knockout mice. The mouse produced in this step is further crossed with a transgenic mouse carrying Cre recombinase that is expressed in a tissue-specific manner and recognizes loxP sequences. This allows investigation of any tissue-specific effects of Mig-6.

Screening of Candidate Agents In Vivo

Agents can be screened for their ability to mitigate an undesirable phenotype (e.g., a symptom) associated with absent or reduced Mig-6 expression or function. In a preferred embodiment, screening of candidate agents is performed in vivo in KO animal of this invention. A KO animal suitable for use in screening assays includes any animal having an alteration in Mig-6 expression as a result of homozygous or heterozygous knockout of the Mig-6 gene.

The candidate agent is administered to the non-human, Mig-6 KO animal and the effects of the candidate agent determined. The candidate agent can be administered in any manner desired and/or appropriate for delivery of the agent in order to effect a desired result. For example, the candidate agent can be administered by injection or infusion, e.g., intravenously, intramuscularly, subcutaneously, or directly into the tissue in which the desired affect is to be achieved, orally, or by any other desired route. Normally, the in vivo screen will involve a number of animals receiving varying amounts and concentrations of the candidate agent (ranging from negative controls to an amount of agent that approaches an upper limit of tolerable doses), and may include delivery of the agent in any of a number of different formulations. The agents can be administered singly or can be in combinations of two or more agents, especially where administration of a combination of agents may result in a synergistic effect.

The effect of the test agent upon the KO animal can be monitored by assessing a biological function as appropriate or by assessing a phenotype associated with the loss of Mig-6 function. For example, the effect of the candidate agent can be assessed by determining levels of bony outgrowth and articular cartilage degradation produced in the treated KO mouse relative to the levels produced in the untreated Mig-6 KOK mouse and/or treated or untreated wildtype mice. Methods for assaying bony outgrowth and articular cartilage degradation are well known in the art. Where the candidate agent affects a Mig-6-associated phenotype, in a desired manner, the candidate agent is identified as an agent suitable for use in therapy of an Mig-6-associated disorder.

The test agents identified by the present methods to have the desired pharmacological activity may be administered in a physiologically acceptable carrier to a host for treatment of a condition attributable to a defect in Mig-6 function (e.g., osteoarthritis and various types of cancer).

Other Functions of Mig-6

The Mig-6 gene expression is significantly up-regulated by SRC-1 and progesterone receptor in the murine uterus. Real-time RT-PCR and in situ hybridization studies of Mig-6 regulation by SRC-1 and progesterone receptor showed that progesterone induces mig-6 synthesis in uterine stromal cells of ovariectomized wild type mice, but not in progesterone receptor KO mice or SRC-1^(−/−) null mice. Treatment (40 firs) of ovariectomized mice with estrogen and progesterone strongly induces Mig-6 expression in the stroma cells 40 hr. Mig-6 is also expressed at relatively high levels in the decidual regions early in pregnancy. The ability the uterus to undergo a hormonally induced decidual reaction is significantly enhanced in the Mig-6 KO mice of the present invention, Mig-6 thus appears to exert anti-proliferative effects in the decidualization reaction in mice.

Mig-6 has been found to play a role in the molecular pathophysiology of ischemic injury. Cardiac ischemia (or hypoxia of cardiomyocytes in vitro) deprives these cells of oxygen, triggering cell death (=myocardial infarction) mediated by a stress response program induced by ischemia or hypoxia. Expression of the Mig-6 protein, a 50-kDa cytosolic adapter protein which suppresses signaling from receptor Tyr kinases of the EGF receptor/ErbB family, rapidly stimulates cardiomyocyte death coincident with reduced Akt and ERK signaling. Indeed, Mig-6 levels increase in myocardial ischemic injury and infarction. Hypoxia/reoxygenation of cultured cardiomyocytes induces Mig-6 mRNA and protein. Endogenous Mig-6 reduces Akt and ERK signaling and is required for maximal hypoxia-induced cardiomyocyte death.

Having now generally described the invention, the same will be more readily understood through reference to the following examples which are provided by way of illustration, and are not intended to be limiting of the present invention, unless specified.

Example I Mig-6 Knockout Mice: Materials and Methods

Mice and Genotyping.

To generate Mig-6 knockout mice, the present inventors constructed a Mig-6 targeting vector or knockout vector (FIG. 1A) by inserting a 5 kb genomic fragment upstream of exon 2 (designated e2) and a 3 kb genomic fragment downstream of exon 4 (designated e4) into the pPNT vector (Tybulewicz, V et al., (1991) Cell 65:1153-63), respectively 5′ to and 3′ to the PGK-NEO cassette.

As shown in FIG. 1A, this knockout vector or “targeting vector” includes the following components (in the 5′-3′ direction):

-   -   (1) The 5′-homologous recombination sequence derived from mouse         Mig-6 genomic DNA; this is a ˜5-kb genomic fragment mostly         upstream of exon 2 (though it includes a short sequence from         exon 2). This fragment has the following sequence [SEQ ID         NO:19]. The bold/underscored 3′ sequence corresponds to nt's         from exon 2.

AGGTCATCTA GTGGAGGCAA GAACACACAA ACCATCCTTT CTTTGCATCC TTTTGGACAG CATTTATGAA ATATTTGCTG AAGCTATCAC ATCTTACTTG ATTCCATGCA TGAGCACTGT AGTTGTGTTT TATTTTAGAA GTCATTCATG CAGCTAATAT AAAGGCGAGT TCTGCTTTTC TATGGTAAAC TTATAACAAA GAAGTTTCCT TAGCCTGGCT CCCTTCTTTC CTTAACCCCA AATCATAGCT TTTAAAATTA AATCTGAAAA ACTTTGAATT CAGGCCTTTG CTCTTGAAAT ATCTGTGCAA ACGCCCTTTT GCTTTCAGTA AATAAGTGTA GATTATATCA CCTGCTTGAT TCAAAGACAC AGAAGAGTCT TTGCTGCGTT TAACAGTTTG TTACCTTAAC TTCCACAAAC CAGGAAGACA CATGCTCGCT ATTTACAGCC AAAATGTGTA AGACATTGAC TAGAAGTATG ATGGATCCCA TGATTTTTAG ATCCTCCTGT GTAACAGGAT AATGCTGAGT GCAGGTAGAT GCTAAGTCAT TTTTCTCCGT TATTAATTTA AGTCCACAAC ACAGCAAATA AAACTGATTT CCATTTCCTC TCATTTTCTC GGCGAGCATA GGAAGTAGTA TATTTGAGGA AGATCCAAAG TAATGAAAGG TGGCAACGTT TCTAATCGGT GTCTTCCGAT AAACTTGGCT CTATAGTGAA GTTGTCTTCC CTGATTATGG AAGTAGCTAG GTAGGCAATT GTTAAACGCA GCTGGAAAGA CCATTTATCA CTCTGAATAA ACAGAAATCA GGTTCTAGAA CCAGATTGAA AGAAGGAAAT TACATCACAC TCTTAAATAA GGAAGCACTG GGCAGAACTG GATGAGTTGT AAGACAAAAA TGTGCCCCTC CTCCTCTCAT GGACTGCTCC TGAGATGTAT TAATAAGATC TTGTGGCAAG GTAAGCATAT CTAGGTTACT GCCTTAAGGT AGCCTAGCTT TGTGTGTTAA AGCAGTTTCA AAGTAAGTAT TTTCAAGATA AAGACATGTG AGTTCACCTT AGAAAGTGTG CAGTGTGCTA TTGGTATATT GTGACTTTTT TATTTTTAAA GTGTCAATAA AACAAAGATA GATAGATTAC AAGCCCAAAG GAACAGTATG TAAGAAAAGG TGAAAAGTCT GTAGTAAGAA GCCATTGAGA AAGCCACGCC AGCAGCCATT GATGCTGACC TTTTACTCAG CCACACACTG TCACTGAGGA CCCAGAAGGT GAACTCGGGA TATTCTAAAT GTGTTAGGTT ATTACAGGCC TAACTTACAT ACAGTACATT CAGAGTTGAT CCCTGAACAA ATCTGTGCTT TTCCCTTAGC TTTCCTCTTC AGCCTGGGGA GAATCTTACA TAATTACATT TTAAAACATG AGATGGCTAT TTTCTCAGTT CACTTAATAT GATCTACAGG GGGGAGGAAA TGTCAGGCAC CAGTCCTAGA TTTGGAGGGT AGGAGGGGAA CCTGGCGTAG CACAGAATAG CTAGACTGGC CCTGGATTTT AATAACAGGA GGGGCTTGTT GAAGGAGCAC AGTGTGAGAA CAAGCCTTAA AGCTCAAAGC AGCTAGAGCT GAACAGGGCA GGTTAGGGAA AGGCCATTGT GAGGTCTTTT GTGCCAGCTG AGGCGCTTTT AGAGGCTTTT ACAGGTTCTT TTGGGGGTGG CAATTAAGGA ATATTGATTT GATCCTGTTG GCTGTAGTAT GGTTTAAATA TCTTCAGACT AAAAATTGGA ACCAATAGGA GAAGGAAGAG AGTTTTGAGA AGAAGTTTAA AAACTTTGTA TGGATGTTGG CAGTTGAATG TATATTGGCC TTAACTCAGG CTCACAGTGG TAGGTACCTC AGGAAGTATG ATCCTCTTGG ATCAAGAAAG GGTGGGAGGT AAGTTAAGAG ACCCAAAGAA TCGGGTTTGG AACTTGTGAG ATACCAGAGG CCCATCCAAG TGGAAAGATA ATCACCAGAC AGACAATAAG AAATGCACAG TGGAAGTGGA AGTCAGACTG CACGTACCTC CTTAGGAACT GTCTGTGGAT TTGAAGCCAT AGAAATGAAT TAAAAGATTT TAAGAGCAAA ATCTTAAAGT TAAAATATAG TGCAATTAGC AGAAATGAGG TACTGGTATT TAACTACATT TTGGTCACTT CACATTAAAA TTGTTTTATG ATTATGTAAA TTGTTATACT GAAGGTTATT TGGGTCCTGG TTTACACAGT GAACCTGTAT CGACATTCAT TTTGATCTTG GCTTTCATAA TAGAATACCA TATTGTACTT TTAAATATTG ACACTCATAC ATAAATGTAT CTTTGCAGTT AGTTTCTTTA TGAATTGAAA AGTAGAGCTA GTTTTACAGT TATGAGGACT TGGATACAAT TGTAAACACT GCAGCATTAG TTGAATTTTA CTTGAGCAAA CTGTGTTGTT TTATTGGCTA GAGTGATTTC TCTGCCTCCA CCAGGATTAT ACAACCTGAA TGCTGGCTTG GGCTTTTTTG TCTTGTGAGG TAGGAGACTT CCAAACAGTT TTCTAACATA ACCTTAGTTT AACATCAGGA GGGATGAGAG AGTGTATGTG TATCTAAGCC TTAAACCTGG GGCATGTTGC TCTTTTGAGT TTTACAGCCT GAAGTTATTT TCCAAACGAT GAGAGCACAG CAGTTATATT GCCCTCTTTG CTTCTGCCAT GCAAGCAAGT AGGAAGTTCA GATAGTTTCA TAACATGGCC CATTCACAAT TCCCCATTGA AATTTAGAGG CAGGTCACCT TCTATGAATA CACAAAGACA ACTATTGTGG TCAGAAGTGA GCTGGCTTAG TGAACACAAT TCTTTTTATA CTAAAAAAAA AAAATTTCCT TAAGAAAGCT AACAAGTAGG TGATGGAACA ATGAATAAAA AATAACTTTT TCTAAAACAT ATAAATAATT TTAAGTGACC ACTGAAGTGT AAGTTTAGGA TTCCAAGGCA ACTTGAGCAG AGGCGATAGT TACACAATCA CTCTGTTGAA AGCTAAGATG TAGATGGCAC TGGGAGGCTG ACACAGTAAT TACTAGTAGT ATTTGTTGGC TGGCCTACAG GTGGGGGCTG GGCCTCCCTC GTCCCCCGCA GCATTGTCCT GTAATCGGGA TGAACCATCT TCCAACGTGT GCTTTCAAAC CACTTAACCA CCACAGTCGT CCTCCCATCT CGCCTGCCTT TCATTTTCAT ATTACACAGA TCCTTTCCCT GTAGTCTCTC AGTGTTTGTG ACTATTTAGA AAGGGCTTGA TACACCCTGG CTAAGTATAC ACTGGGAGAG GCTAGCCTCT TTAAAAATGT GTTTTTTAAA TTACTCAATG GTAAATAACA CATCCGTTTT ATTTCAGTAA TCTAAAAAAC CAAGACTCAA AGACCTAATA CTAAGGTTCC TTAAGTGACG GAGAGACTGG TTTTTCAAAA CAAGGTTTGA CTCTTTGAAA TAAAATAACT GCCTTGTGTA TTAAAACAGC TGCTTTTGTA AACATCTATG GGGTATTTTT TTAGATTAGC TTAAAAAAGT AAGAACCCCT ATGCCTTCCA CATAGTTTAC CTTTGGCAGA CTTACTGAGC CAGGTCCCTG TGGTTAAAAG GTACTTAGGA CCCTCAGCCA CTTGTTCTGA AGCCATAGTT CACTGGGCCC AGATTTGTAA GTAGTACATG TTTAGTTGCT GATCATTTTA ATAAGAAGGT CCATCTGCGT AGCTCCTTCA GCACAGGGGT CCTAGTCCCG CACTAGCACT TGGTAGGTCT GCAAGTATTT AATGGCAGAG TTGTGTAGAC AATGTGTGTG GAGAACTCAA AGGGGTCTGT GTTCTGGGCA GCCAGCAGAT AACATCCTGC TGTCTAAAGG CGAAAAGGCC CAGCTTCCTA AATGCTCGTG CCTATCTGAA GCCAGCAGAG TTGGTGGGTT TTAGCATCTG CAGAGTACTG AATCAAAAAC AGAAAATTAG AATGCGCCTG TGAGAACTCC AGGCCGGTAA CATCTGATAC AAGGGGATTT CTAAAATTAA GGAACTACTA GTTTAAGAAA AATATATTTT GCTTTTGTAG TCCATGCCTT ATAGGGAGGA GGACATGAAT TACTGCGTAT TTCACAAAGG AGAACACAAA CAATGTCCCT TAAGTTTGTC TTTGAAAGGA AGGAAGCTAG CCAAAGCTGA CACTGAAGCC AGTAATCTTG CAGAACTTGA TTTTTACAAG ATGATAGAAA TTTGTATCCG CATATGTGAC TGTATATTTC TTGAGCAAGT AATAGCTGGA GAATATGTCT TCTGTGACCA ACCCCGAAAT ACAGAGTCCA AATGAATGTT AGGCTGTGGG GAGGTGGGTT TCAGTGCTGG AGACTCTCCT GAGTGGGCTC TAGTGAATGA CAGCTCAGCC TGTGTGGAGC ACGGTACTTT CTAAAATTAC TTAGGTTTGT TTGTTGTTTT CAGGGTGGGG GATCAGTGAG GGTAAGACAG GACTTGTTAT GTAGTCCAAG CAGGCCTTGA ACCCTACCTG CCTCAGCCTC GAAAGAGCTG GGATTACCAT GCCTAGCTTG AAATTCCTTT TTAAGCCTGG GAAAAATGGG TAGTATCCAC TGCGCTTCCT TCCTGGTAGA GCCATGCCAT AGAAAGTCAG TTTAGTGGGC TGAAGGGGGT TTGTGTGCTT TGGAAAGCAG TTGTGATTTG TTGAGCAACT GGTAAGCTCT GCAGCAAGGG TTGGCTTTCC TGGCAATTGA TTCTTTCTCA TTCTGTGAAA AACCTTTCAA GTGTCAAGTT AGTATTTATA AAAACAAAAA TTGTTTTTTG CTGGCCACAT TTTAAGTATC CTTATAAGAA TTAGAAGAAC GTCTATAACC AAATTTTCCC ATCTCCCTCC ACCTCTGATT ATTTATGCTA CAATATATAC TATCCGACTT CTGAATTATG TTGTTTATTC TCTCATTTGT TCTTGATTTC CCCA GGGAAT GAAAGCTACT GGTTGACTTA AAAACACCTG GGCTTTACAA ATTTGAAGGC A

-   -   (2) The PGK-neo cassette which comprises the PGK-Neo hybrid gene         consisting of the phosphoglycerate kinase I promoter driving the         gene (resulting in neomycin resistance). This is a widely used         cassette employed as a selectable marker for homologous         recombination in embryonic stem ES cells. See, for example,         Tybulewicz, V et al., supra). This cassette is flanked by a 5′         XhoI restrictions site and a 3′ EcoRV restriction site         (respectively labeled X and E in FIG. 1A). The sequence of         PGK-neo in known in the art (see any cell or molecular biology         textbook such as Strachan, T et al., Human Molecular Genetics,         3^(rd) ed., Garland Science, 2003) and is publicly available. A         cloning vector pPGKneo-I is provided at Gene Bank Accession         #AF335419, which includes the sequences of the PGK-1 promoter,         the nucleotide (and amino sequence) of neo coding sequence (and         its protein product) as well as the lox-P site (which is         discussed above). See, also, for example, for the PGK-1         promoter, McBurney M W et al., 1991, Nucleic Acids Res.         19:5755-61, and for the neo gene, Colbere-Garapin F et al., J         Mol Biol. 150:1-14 and Beck E et al., 1982, Gene 19:327-36.     -   (3) The 3′-homologous recombination sequence derived from mouse         Mig-6 genomic DNA; this is a ˜0.3-kb genomic fragment downstream         of exon 4). This fragment has the following sequence [SEQ ID         NO:20].

TAGGATCACA TAACCTGGGC ATGGTAGTAC ATGCCCATAA GCCCAGCACT TGGGAGGCAG AGGCTGGAGA ATCAGGAGTT CAAGGTCATC TTTGGTTACA CATGCATTCG GGGTTTTAGG CCACATGAAT CCCTGTGAAA GAAAGAGGGG GGGTGGGGGA AGGAAAGGAA AGGAAAGGAA AGGAAAGGAA GAAAGGAGAG AAATTTTGTG GTAAAATCAA GCCTTTTGTT CTTACCTGCA ACAACTAAGT AACCTTGGTC CCGTGCTTCT GTGGAAACCT TGAGGGTCAG GGCTGTGCAG TCCGTAGAAA GGAGCATTCA CTGTACAGAT TTCTTGGGCT TCAGGATTAC TCTGGGCCCT TTGTGGCCTT TGCTGCTGTT TGTCTGGGAC CTTACTCTCC ACTGCCAGGC ATCACAGAGG GCCCTGCACA CTGCTGTCTG CTGGGCTGCT GTATCAGAGC TGGTGGCCCT GTGTGTCGGG TGTTAGATTT GGGAAGAAGA GAGTTTGTGG CGATGTGATT TGGAAGTGTT TAAAAGGTAC TCGGTAGGCA ACTGAAGGGC ATCTGACCCC TGGAAATGAT GGTCAGAGTT GGAGATAGCG ATTTGGAAGG TGTGATAGCA GACGAAGGCA AGCCTGTGAG GCCAGGAAGC AGGAAGCAGC TGGGCACGTT CCAGAAGCTG AAGGCCACGG GCGAGTAGGC TGAGCAGTGG AAAAGGGCAG TGGGTGCAAC TCAAAAGATC CTAAGTGGGA GAGGAACACG ATGTGATTTG TTTTAGGAAA GATGACAGTA GCTGCTGTGT GGGGAACATT TCAGAGAAGT GAAATTAGCA GAAACACTAA AAGCTACAGG CCAGGGCCCA AAACTGGCAC CAGAGTGAAG GGGGGGCGGG GGAGGGGATG GAGAGACACA TGGCTTTCAG AGTTGTTAGG ATGACAGGCT CCAGCCTGAA AGCAGTCTGC ACCGCCCTTC TTCCAGAACG GCGGTGGCTC TTGCGAGCTG GAACCGCCTG TGTCCTTGTA CTAGCACTGA GCATTGCCTG GTACAGGAAG CCATGGTACT TACATTAGTT CCAGCTTCAT TTCCTTACCT GTTTCTGTGT TTTCCCTTGA ACTTTTGCGA TATACTTTTC ATGGTTTTTT CTGGTCAAAG AACTGTCCTT GGCGCCCATG CTAATGGCAC ACTGCTAAAA CACCCAGGAG CCACTTGCCC ACCTATACCT CCCCAGCCGG CACACCAAGC AAGTTGAATT TTTTTTTTCC AACTTATATG TCTGGGAGTT TTGCCTGTGT ATGTCTGTGC ATTGCATGCA TGCAGTACCT GGTGCCCACA GGCCCAAAGA TGGCGTGGGA TCATGGTTTC TGACAGCCAT GAGCTGCTAC ATGGATGCTG GGAACTGAAC TCTGGTTCTC AGGCAGAGCA GCCAGTATTC TTAACGACTA AGCCATCTTT ACAGCCCTGT GTGATATCTT AGGTAATTAT CAAAATGGGA AGTTGGTATC TGCACGATCC TTGTATAATG TTTTGTTTAG CTGCAAACTG ATACTTGGTC ATAAAAACTA GAAACTGATT TGGCCATTCT GTCAGGCATT TTGTAAAAAG CTAGTGGAAC TTTTAAAAAG CTGTCGTGCA AAGCCATGCA GTGCTCATGG CACTTGATGA GATGGTCCTG ATGCTGGCTG GCTCCAGAGT AGTCTCCGCT CTTGGCATAG CTGGAGGCTT GAGGTTCCAT ACCTGAAATG AGAAAAAGCC CAAAGACAAG AATGTACATT TTGAATTGAG CTCTAAAGCT CTGAGGTATT CTTGCCCTAA TATAAGATTT CTTCAAACTA GAAATGGCTT GAGGACTTGT TTTCTTTGTA GTGTAGGTCA TTTGACAGAA TGTTCTGGCG CCTTTGCGCC CTTCGGTGTG AGTCATGCCA TTCTTTTGAG GCTCTGAGGG GTGAAGGGGA AGAGAACAGA ATTTGTCTAC ACTGTTGGCC TCACCTCTTG CTCCCTGTAA CTACACAAAC ATGGTTCAGG CGTGCCTAGC GCTGCTTACT GTGAGGGTGT GAGCTTGCTC GCCTTCGTCT CACCTGTATG GATTCAACTT CAGGATACTT GTATCCGAGC CACGGGGAGT CTGCGGCTCC CGCACGTTTA AACAAGCTCC CCTTAGCTTT CAAGATGTCT ACTTGGAATC TGAAGCAGCA AACATACTTG TGTATGTTTT TCTGTACCTG AGCTTACATC AGAGCAACCT TGTGACTCAG AAGTCACCGC CCCATGGCAG TAGTGGGGTT TTGGTAAGGA GTGGGGGGCT GGGGACAGAT GGGAAGGAAT GTACTTCAAG TACTAGTTGG CACCTGTCTT GGAGCTGCTG TCAGGCTAGA GGCTTAGCCA GCGTGCCTCT TGAATGCTGT CATCTCTCAC CCTGTAAGTT CAGACACCCG GAACCCCAAG CACAAAAGCC TGTAGCAATT ACCCACAGGG ATCCGCGTAT CTGCCCCCCC TCCCCCAAAA TGGAGCTGCT TAGGAATGTG CACTGCATTC TCTTCACAGA TCCAGGCAGC ACCTTCATTC CTTAGTAAAC ATCTAAACCC AGGCCTCCCA TGGGTTTCTT CACAGTCATG AGGGTTAGCC AGTGCCTTCC CTAGGGACAG CATGACTTGT CCGCTCCCCT CTTGTGAAAG GCAGAATGAG TCGTGTCATT CTGGCCTGCA CCAAGCCTTC CTCTGGCCTA GCCATGGCAC CGCCTCAGGC ACAGCACACA GGAAGCTGTA CTTTGTTATT CTGAATTCCT GGCTAGCCTC ATGTTCTTGG ATGAACCAG

-   -   (4) The herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene (HSV-TK)         which serves as a selectable marker. When the knockout construct         is integrated into the chromosome at the site of the normal         Mig-6 gene, the HSV TK gene is eliminated by the cellular         “recombinase” enzymes, and the cells are not sensitive to the         nucleoside analogue ganciclovir. Thus, ES cells improperly         transformed, in which homologous recombination has not taken         place, will be killed by exposure to ganciclovir, selecting for         the desired ES cells. This selectable marker system and the         sequence of HSV-TK are well known in the art (and are described         in any textbook of molecular or cell biology such as Strachan et         al., supra; also, see, for example, Enquist L W, Vande Woude G F         et al., 1979, Gene. 7:335-42.

While this is an exemplary knockout construct, other constructs that employ different flanking genomic Mig-6 sequences, a different positive selectable marker instead of neo, a different promoter driving neo or another selectable marker, etc. can be use to disrupt the murine Mig-6 gene and achieve the same effects. The negative selectable marker, here HSV-TK, is optional; other well-know negative selectable markers can be used in its place for the same purpose. The present inventors were the first produce a knockout constructltargeting vector to disrupt this gene, and the this invention contemplates any and all analogous or homologous constructs that achieve the same result—a murine Mig-6 KO mouse.

ES clones were established by electroporation of linearized plasmid and selection in neomycin. Positive Mig-6^(+/−) ES clones were screened by PCR and Southern Blot analyses. Two independent clones were used to generate Mig-6 knockout mice. The following primers were used for PCR genotyping:

[SEQ ID NO: 1] Forward primer p1: 5′-GACAATTTGAGCAACTTGACTTGG-3′ is specific for the wild-type locus; [SEQ ID NO: 2] Reverse primer p2: 5′-GGTTACTTAGTTGTTGCAGGTAAG-3′ is shared by both wild type and mutant locus; [SEQ ID NO: 3] Primer p3: 5′-CCTTCTATCGCCTTCTTGACG-3′ is derived from PGK-neo cassette and is specific for the mutant locus.

Rag2 null mice (Shinkai, Y et al., (1992) Cell 68:855-67 were obtained from Mouse Models of Human Cancer Consortium Repository at the National Cancer Institute. The primers used for genotyping Rag2 mice are those reported in Corazza, N et al., (1999) J. Exp. Med. 190:1479-91.

Northern Blot Analysis.

Total RNAs were isolated from mouse tissues by homogenization in TRIzol Reagent (Invitrogen). 20 μg of each RNA sample was used for Northern Blot analyses with mouse Mig-6 cDNA probe and β-actin probe.

RT-PCR Analysis.

First strand cDNA was prepared from 1 μg of each RNA sample using Advantage RT-for-PCR kit (Clontech) and used for PCR amplification. The primers for Mig-6 amplification were:

[SEQ ID NO: 4] 5′-CAGAAGTTACATGGGATGAATGG-3′ and [SEQ ID NO: 5] 5′-TGAACACAAACTGCGTGTCTCAC-3′. The primers for GAPDH amplification were:

[SEQ ID NO: 6] 5′-TCCAGTATGACTCCACTCACG-3′ and [SEQ ID NO: 7] 5′-ACAACCTGGTCCTCAGTGTAG-3′. Primers for Real-time PCR analysis of human MIG-6 are as follows:

[SEQ ID NO: 8] (1) Forward Primer: 5′-TCTTCCACCGTTGCCAATC-3′ This primer is complementary to the human Mig-6 coding sequence from nt 668 to nt 686. Human Mig-6 cDNA nucleotide sequence and encoded amino acid sequence are found in GeneBank accession ID: NM 018948. The human Mig-6 coding sequence is SEQ ID NO:17]

[SEQ ID NO: 9] (2) Reverse Primer: 5′-TTCCACCTCACAGTCTGTGTCAT-3′ This primer is complementary to human Mig-6 coding sequence from nt 728 to nt 706 of SEQ ID NO:17.

[SEQ ID NO: 10] (3) TaqMan Probe: 5′-CTGAAGCCCTCTCTCT-3′. This primer is complementary to human Mig-6 coding sequence from nt 688 to nt 703 of SEQ ID NO:17.

Preparation of Adult Skeleton.

The method for preparing the adult skeleton for analysis is described elsewhere (Selby, P B (1987) Stain Technology 62:143-6). Briefly, 4 month old animals were sacrificed, eviscerated and immersed in 2% KOH overnight. The carcasses were rinsed and stained in 1.9% KOH containing 0.04 g/L of Alizarin Red S (Sigma) for two days, and cleared in cleaning solution (400 ml/L of white glycerin, 200 ml/L of benzyl alcohol and 400 ml/L of 70% ethanol).

Histology and Immunohistochemistry (IHC).

Mouse bone tissues were fixed in formalin or 4% paraformaldehyde, followed by decalcification in formic acid bone decalcifier, and then embedded in paraffin. Sections of 5 μm thickness were prepared and stained either with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), with Mason's trichrome to detect collagens, or with Safranin O to detect proteoglycans. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) or type II collagen was immunohistochemically detected using a mouse monoclonal antibody (mAb) against PCNA (Santa Cruz Biotechnology) or mouse mAb directed against type II collagen (Chemicon International), respectively, using a M.O.M. Kit (for detecting mouse primary antibodies on mouse tissue) and peroxidase detection system (Vector Laboratories). For type II collagen IHC staining, sections were pretreated in Tris-HCl (pH 2.0) containing 1 mg/ml of pepsin for 15 minutes at room temperature. For Von Kossa's staining to detect calcium deposition, sections were prepared from non-decalcified bone tissues.

Example II Early Onset Osteoarthritis in Mig-6 Knockout Mice

Mig-6 deficient mice were generated by conventional gene targeting technology by replacing the entire coding region of Mig-6 with PGK-Neo cassette/construct (FIG. 1A). The loss of wild type alleles of Mig-6 was determined by Southern Blot analysis using “Probe A” and by PCR-based genotyping (FIG. 1B).

Probe A has the following nucleotide sequence [SEQ ID NO:21]:

TACCTGCCTT ATTCAGAGGA GTCAAGTGTG TATCTTAAGT CATTTTGTTC CAGTAATTTG AAGAGCCTAA GACTTTAAAA GAGAGGCTGT GGTATGGTCG AGAGCATAAA CTTTGAGGCC AAGCTTCCTG AAGTAAGCCG TGGCATTACT GTGGCTCACC GGAGCCGAGT CAGATCTAGT TGCAGAAGCT CCTCGTCTGT CATTGAGAGT AGTGTCCCAC CTACCTTAGG GCTGCTACAA GGATAAAACT GAAAACCTTC CTGACAGACA GTATCCTATG AATGTCATTA TCATCACCTA TGTATTAATT TTAACTCTCC TGAGTTGTCC ATTGGGTTAT TTAAATGCTT GTTAAATAAA CTTGAAGTTT TAAAGACTCA TTTCCCATCA TTAGCCCATT GTGGTCATTG TCATTAAGAT TACAACAGAA TCCACACATC GTTCACAGGT ACAGTGCATT GCATATGTCG GAAAGAAATG CTCTTCCATG CCGTGTGTGC TTGCCTGTGT CTGTGGATGG TACTGTTGAT TGTTGTGCTC TGTAGGAAAA ATACCAATGA CAAAACAATA CAGTGCTGTT GCCCTGCTTG TAATTGTATC TCCCTAAAAT CCTGAGGGAC AAACTGAATC ACAAGGCTAT TGAGACAGGA GT This sequence is from murine genomic Mig-6 DNA and is located upstream of the 5′-homologous recombination sequence described above and used in the knockout construct.

The lack of Mig-6 expression was confirmed in liver and thymus derived from homozygous mice by Northern Blot analysis (FIG. 1C). Homozygous Mig-6^(−/−) KO mice are viable, but a reduction in litter size to one half that of heterozygous litters was observed, indicating some embryonic lethality is associated with the loss of both Mig-6 alleles.

While Mig-6 was expressed at high levels in mouse liver and kidney, no obvious pathological changes or defects in these tissues were observed.

Surprisingly, the present inventors found that most of the Mig-6^(−/−) mice showed an abnormal gait as early as one-month of age. With time, progressive enlargement and deformity of multiple joints were found in the Mig-6^(−/−) mice, especially the knees, ankles and temporal-mandibular joints (TMJ) (FIG. 2D-F). Such deformities were not observed in wild type or heterozygous Mig-6 mice (FIG. 2A-C). All Mig-6^(−/−) animals developed joint deformities, leading to joint stiffness and a majority of animals died within 6 months, most likely due to TMJ ankylosis (FIG. 2F) resulting in an inability to eat and/or drink. Late stage mutant mice were thin and appeared exhausted compared to their wild type and heterozygous littermates.

The joint deformities of Mig-6^(−/−) mice were examined by first preparing H&E sections from joints taken at different ages and compared to similar preparations from Mig-6^(+/+) and Mig-6^(+/−) mice. In the knee joint of Mig-6^(−/−) mice at ages from 1.5-6 months, outgrowths of abnormal bony nodules were observed within the joint space adjacent to the margin of the synovial and cartilage junctions, accompanied by narrowing of joint space over time (FIG. 2J-L). Similar pathological changes were observed in atilde joints of these mice as well as in the TMJ, neck, and other joints. Joint sections derived from younger Mig-6^(−/−) mice at ages of 12 and 20 days were also examined and showed no signs of these structural abnormalities, suggesting that the bony nodules and the degenerative joint changes developed at later stages. The abnormal nodules surrounded by spindle-shaped mesenchymal like cells contained hyperplastic fibrocartilage with variable chondrocyte shapes, representing different stages of cartilage matrix development (FIG. 3A). The nodules were abundant in the cartilage matrix as determined by Mason's Trichrome Staining for collagen and Safranin O staining for proteoglycan (FIG. 3A). Compared to the outer zones of the nodules, the inner zones had a higher density of proteoglycans, which were produced by mature chondrocytes (FIG. 3A). The deeper zones of the nodules were undergoing endochondral ossification. Von Kossa staining revealed calcium deposition of osteoid matrix (FIG. 3A). This bony outgrowth had the components mimicking osteophyte formation, a characteristic feature of human osteoarthritis (Koopman et al., supra; Resnick et al., supra).

In addition to bony outgrowths, the present inventors also observed other arthritic changes in Mig-6^(−/−) mutant joints, including degradation of articular cartilage, formation of subchondral cysts, synovial hyperplasia and abnormally robust vascularization (FIG. 3B-E). In Mig-6^(−/−) mutant joints, the surfaces of the articular cartilage become rough and disorganized. Degradation of articular cartilage is observed at multiple regions across the joint, accompanied by signs of tissue regeneration (FIG. 3B). Subchondral cyst formation is another characteristic pathological feature in human osteoarthritis. This was also observed in the Mig-6^(−/−) arthritic joints: Various sized subchondral cysts filled with fibroblast-like cells were present, separated from the bony structures that formed beneath the degraded articular cartilage (FIG. 3C). By comparison, the joints of age-matched Mig-6^(+/+) and Mig-6^(+/−) mice did not show any evidence of these pathological changes. Along with the articular cartilage degradation, synovial cells lining the joint of mutant mice were hyperplastic, with multiple cell layers, compared with the thin layer of synovial cells found in normal joints (FIG. 3D). Accompanying the destructive and reconstructive remodeling activities in the mutant joints, the present inventors observed vascularization in regions that are normally avascular (FIG. 3E) (Koopman et al., supra; Resnick et al., supra).

Articular cartilage not only provides a low-friction surface for joint movement but also flexibility for withstanding concussive forces applied to the joint during a subject's normal activity. The cartilage matrices of which proteoglycan and collagen are the two major components, are responsible for both these tasks (Hamerman, D. (1989) N. Engl. J. Med. 320:1322-30). In osteoarthritis, the density of proteoglycan is reduced within the articular cartilage due to disruption of a balance between degradation and production (Sandell, U et al., (2001) Arthritis Res. 3:107-13; Rowan, A. D. (2001) Expert Rev. Mol. Med. 2001:1-20). The hyaline cartilages of Mig-6^(+/+) and Mig-6^(+/−) mice displayed intense proteoglycan staining throughout articulating surface, such as in the femur and patella (FIGS. 4D and E). However, the present inventors observed a lack of proteoglycan staining within some areas of these articular surfaces, especially in late stages of the Mig-6⁻⁻ mutant joint destruction (FIG. 4F). Interestingly, beneath the cartilage, there is proteoglycan staining in the damaged joint (FIG. 4F). Proteoglycan staining in the joints of mutant mice in early stages of joint disease is similar to that in wild type and heterozygous mice (FIG. 4A-C).

To determine which cells are responsible for the regeneration and formation of osteophyte in the Mig-6^(−/−) mouse joints, immunohistochemical staining was performed to identify proliferating cells in G1 and S using a mAb against PCNA. Interestingly, the present inventors found that the mesenchymal-like spindle-shaped cells at the outer zone of the osteophyte and in the region of cartilage repair were strongly positive for PCNA staining (FIG. 5). No PCNA+ cells were observed in the inner zone of the osteophytes, suggesting that the spindle shaped cells are proliferating and likely responsible for osteophyte formation. The mesenchymal progenitor cells have the capability to proliferate and differentiate into chondrocytes (Cancedda, R et al., (1995) Int. Rev. Cytol. 159:265-358). Sections were stained with antibody against mouse type II collagen, a matrix protein that is synthesized by the mature chondrocytes but not by progenitor cells nor by terminally differentiated hypertrophic chondrocytes. Only the layer of chondrocytes lying between the mesenchymal progenitor cells and the chondrocytes in the deeper zones stained positive for type II collagen (FIG. 5), indicating that the bony outgrowths in the Mig-6⁻⁻ mutant joints are derived from proliferating mesenchymal progenitor cells that differentiate into chondrocytes.

In contrast to inflammatory arthritides such as rheumatoid and infectious arthritis, osteoarthritis usually shows relative few inflammatory cells infiltrating affected joints. Although no significant inflammatory cells were observed in Mig-6^(−/−) mutant joints, the present inventors frequently observed that the thymuses of these mice were enlarged compared to normal. To determine whether the immune system played a role in the development of the Mig-6^(−/−) joint phenotype, the present inventors crossed these animals with Rag2 deficient mice (Shinkai, Y et al., supra) to generate progeny deficient for both Mig-6 and Rag2. These mice displayed severe immune deficiency, due to a failure of development of both mature B and T cells. This phenotype, however, did not alter either the frequency or extent of the Mig-6^(−/−) joint phenotype (FIG. 6). Thus, the “adaptive” or “acquired” immune system does not appear to play a role in this joint disorder.

Many growth factors and cytokines influence the pathogenesis of OA (Rowan, A D (2001) Expert Rev. Mol. Med. 2001:1-20), including TGF-β□□ (Hulth, A et al., (1996) J. Orthop. Res. 14:547-53; van Beuningen, H. M. et al. (2000) Osteoarthritis Cartilage 8:25-33; Allen, J. B. et al. (1990) J. Exp. Med. 171:231-47; Bakker, A. C. et al., (2001) Osteoarthritis Cartilage et al., 9:128-36; Scharstuhl, A. et al., (2002) J. Immunol. 169:507-14; Serra, R. et al. (1997) J. Cell Biol. 139:541-552; Yang, X., et al. (2001) J. Cell Biol. 153:35-46) and BMPs (Rountree, R. B. et al., (2004) PLoS Biol. 2:1815-27). In addition, genetic predisposition to osteoarthritis has been linked to mutations in genes like COL2A1 (Aigner, T et al., (2003) Curr. Opin. Rheumatol. 15:634-40).

Here, it is disclosed for the first time that Mig-6-deficient mice display multiple joint defects. The phenotypes include joint deformities, degradation of articular cartilage, subchondral cyst formation and bony outgrowths or osteophyte formation (FIGS. 2 and 3). The pathological features are strikingly similar to human osteoarthritis. The most affected joints are knee and ankle joints, and TMJ, with less frequent occurrence in other joints (FIG. 2). The affected joints bear relatively high amounts of stress that could be a major factor in developing this disorder. Wild type Mig-6 is expressed in knee joint as determined by RT-PCR (FIG. 7). It has recently been shown that Mig-6 expression is increased in response to mechanical load as well as in osteoarthritic cartilage of canine joints (Mateescu, R G et al., (2005) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 332:482-6). Mechanical factors are thought to play an important role in development and degeneration of articular cartilage by influencing expressions of many genes that are crucial for the processes of cell growth, vascularization and ossification (Carter, D R et al., (2004) Clin. Orthop. Relat. Res. 427 Suppl: S69-77)

Mechanical joint stress constitutively stimulates joint regeneration by inducing certain growth factors like TGF-β, BMP, EGF or HGF/SF and other cytokines that stimulate proliferation and differentiation of cells required for joint renewal. According to the present invention, under normal conditions, this regenerative activity is counter-balanced by suppressor activity of Mig-6 that fine-tunes the extent of proliferation and renewal. Losing the suppressing function of Mig-6 causes over-proliferation of mesenchymal progenitor cells that leads to an abnormal state of chondrogenic differentiation and bony outgrowths (FIG. 5).

The profound osteoarthritic phenotype of Mig-6 deficient mice make them a very useful model for (1) determining what factors in the Mig-6 signaling pathway are involved in osteoarthritis; (2) for understanding the molecular mechanism underlying this disease process; and (3) for testing drugs or therapies which may help to alleviate the symptoms or alter the disease progression of osteoarthritis.

Example III Mig-6 and Tumor Suppressor Gene Activity: Experimental Procedures Human Lung Cancer Cell Lines and Cell Culture

The nine non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines EKVX, HOP62, HOP92, NCI-H23, NCI-H226, NCI-H322M, NCI-H446, NCI-H522, and A549 were derived from the NCI 60 cell lines. The cells were cultured in RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum.

Mutational Analysis of Mig-6

Human lung cancer and normal control tissue was obtained through the Cooperative Human Tissue Network (CHTN). Genomic DNA was isolated from human cell lines and tissues. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to amplify the entire coding regions of Mig-6 (exons 2, 3, and partial exon 4) using three primer pairs. Primers used for screening genomic DNA mutations in the coding region of human Mig-6 are as follows. The same set of primers is also used for sequencing PCR products for determining if there is a mutation or not in the coding region of human Mig-6.

(1) Pair-I for amplification of exon 2 & 3: Hmig-I1s & Hmig-I3As

Hmig-I1s (sense sequence derived from intron 1 of human Mig-6 genomic DNA)

[SEQ ID NO: 11] 5′-TTCTCTCATCTCTTCTACCTCC-3′

Hmig-I3As (antisense sequence derived from intron 3 of human Mig-6 genomic DNA)

[SEQ ID NO: 12] 5′-TAATGCTGGAGGACAAGCTAAC-3′ (2) Pair-II for amplification of partial exon 4: Hmig-I3s & Hmig-I4As

Hmig-I3s (sense sequence derived from intron 3)

[SEQ ID NO: 13] 5′-TTCACTCAGGAAGAAAGCTGTG-3′

Hmig-I4As (antisense sequence derived from exon 4)

[SEQ ID NO: 14] 5′-CTCTGCACTTCAATCAAACTGG-3′ The PCR products were purified by QIAquick PCR Purification Kit (QIAGEN) and sequenced using an ABI7000 sequencer.

Western Blot Analysis

Western blotting was performed as described previously (Zhang et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 100:12718-23, 2003). Briefly, the total cell lysates were extracted from lung cancer cells and resolved by Tris-glycine gel (from Invitrogen). The proteins were then transferred to a PVDF membrane (Invitrogen) and detected by immunoblotting with the indicated antibody. The anti-EGFR, anti-p-EGFR, and anti-Met antibodies were purchased from Santa Cruz Biotechnology; the anti-β-actin was from Sigma; the anti-p-ERK and anti-ERK were from Cell Signaling Technology; and the anti-Mig-6 was produced by immunizing rabbits with the synthetic peptides derived from the C-terminal 14 amino acids of Mig-6, SHGKRKHLSYVVSP (SEQ ID NO:22)

Northern Blot Analysis

Total RNA (20 μg per sample) was subjected to Northern blot analysis as described (Zhang et al., supra). The DNA fragment used for probing Mig-6 was amplified from the region between nucleotides 213 and 1601 of human Mig-6 (Accession no. NM_(—)018948) by reverse transcriptase PCR(RT-PCR). The probe for human GAPDH has been described by Zhang et al., supra.

Mouse Histology and Immunohistochemistry (IHC)

The generation and genotyping of Mig-6 knock-out mice was described above in Examples I and II. The mice analyzed in this study are on a B6/129 strain genetic background. Mouse tissues were fixed in formalin and embedded in paraffin. Sections (5 μm) were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) for examination. IHC staining of PCNA was performed as described above.

Example IV EGFR and Met Signaling Regulate Mig-6 Expression in Lung Cancer Cells

Inappropriate activation of EGFR and Met receptor tyrosine kinase signaling by overexpression or mutation is involved in lung carcinogenesis (Zochbauer-Muller et al., Annu. Rev. Physiol. 64:681-708, 2002). Mig-6 has been shown to be a negative feedback inhibitor of EGFR signaling in other cell types (supra). In addition, the present inventors observed that Mig-6 expression is strongly induced by HGF/SF in a sarcoma cell line. Here it is shown that that EGF or HGF/SF can also regulate Mig-6 expression in lung cancer cells.

Both EGFR and Met were highly expressed in several of 9 lung cancer cell lines tested (including EKVX and HOP62) by Western blot analysis (FIG. 8A). In lung cancer cells, as in other cell types, the level of the Mig-6 protein increased with EGF treatment of HOP62 cells (FIG. 8B) and with HGF/SF treatment of EKVX cells (FIG. 8C). Notably, no Mig-6 protein was detected in NCI-H322M and NCI-H226 cells (FIG. 8A).

Example V Regulation of Mig-6 by EGFR and Met is Mediated Through the MAP Kinase Pathway

To determine the downstream pathway involved in EGFR-mediated and Met-mediated Mig-6 regulation in lung cancer cells, HOP62 and EKVX cells were treated with various pathway inhibitors for 1 h prior to a 4 hr period of induction by EGF or HGF/SF. Both HOP62 and EKVX cells expressed significant levels of EGFR and Met (FIG. 8A). Both EGF and HGF/SF induced Mig-6 expression in these two cell lines (FIG. 8B-8D).

Pre-treatment with the MAP kinase pathway inhibitor (a MEK inhibitor) U0126, but not with the PI3 kinase inhibitor LY294002, diminished EGF- and HGF/SF-induced Mig-6 expression (FIG. 8D).

Thus, regulation of Mig-6 expression by EGFR or Met signaling is mediated at least partially through the MAP kinase pathway. The level of Mig-6 protein is very high in NCI-H23 cells, which carry an activating mutant Ras allele (Koo et al., Cancer Res 59:6057-62, 1999) but have barely detectable EGFR or Met (FIG. 8A). Ras, a downstream molecule of the RTK, EGFR, and Met, is required for the activation of the MAPK/ERK pathway. The high level expression of Mig-6 in NCI-H23 cells may be due to constitutive activation of the Ras pathway.

Example VI Mig-6 Feedback Regulation by EGFR and Met is Lost in NCI-H226 Cells

In EKVX cells, the amount of Mig-6 protein rapidly increased in response to EGF treatment (FIG. 9A). Yet even after 4-6 hrs, no Mig-6 was detected in NCI-H322M or NCI-H226 cells using an antibody directed against the Mig-6 C-terminal 14 amino acids (FIG. 9A).

EGF induced EGFR tyrosine phosphorylation and downstream ERK activation in EKVX, NCI-H322M, and NCI-H226 cells (FIG. 9A).

HGF/SF induced Mig-6 expression in EKVX and HOP62 cells (FIGS. 8A-8D and 9B), but like EGF, HGF/SF did not induce Mig-6 in NCI-H226 cells that express high levels of Met and respond to HGF/SF (FIGS. 8A-8D and 9B). Interestingly, the duration of ERK phosphorylation by EGFR and Met was more sustained in Mig-6-deficient NCI-H226 and NCI-H322M cells than in EKVX and HOP62 cells expressing a Mig-6 product (FIGS. 9A and 9B).

Expression of Mig-6 at the transcriptional level was evaluated in NCI-H322M and NCI-H226 cells by Northern blot analysis using total RNAs prepared from NCI-H322M and NCI-H226 cells (with or without EGF treatment). Mig-6 mRNA level is dramatically increased in NCI-H322M cells within 1 h (FIG. 9C). However, almost no Mig-6 mRNA expression was detected in NCI-H226 cells even after 1-4 h of EGF treatment (FIG. 9C).

Thus, feedback up-regulation of Mig-6 by EGFR or Met was defective in NCI-H226 lung cancer cells, even though the MAPK/ERK pathway that mediates the RTK-induced up-regulation of Mig-6 was intact (FIGS. 9A and 9B). This implies that the promoter regulatory regions of Mig-6 in NCI-H226 are either genetically or epigenetically altered.

Mig-6 protein was not detectable in NCI-H322M cells (FIG. 9A), despite the fact that EGF could induce Mig-6 mRNA expression (FIG. 9C). This suggests a potential alteration in the properties of Mig-6 protein in these cells.

Example VII The Mig-6 Gene is Mutated in Human Lung Cancer Cell Lines and Primary Lung Cancer

The above results prompted the inventors to examine whether Mig-6 was genetically altered in human lung cancer. From nine NSCLC cell lines derived from NCI 60 cell lines, two point mutations were identified in the coding region of Mig-6. Even when RTK-induced Mig-6 transcription was silenced (FIGS. 9B and 9C), the gene in NCI-H226 cells bore a homozygous missense mutation leading to the replacement of Asp with Mn at codon 109.

Furthermore, the Mig-6 protein product in NCI-H322M carried a homozygous nonsense mutation, resulting in a truncation after codon 83 (FIG. 10A-10C and Table 1). This alteration prevented the protein from being detected by the antibody specific for the C terminus of Mig-6 (FIGS. 8A-8D and 9A).

Forty one cases of primary human lung cancers were also examined. A germline mutation was identified in one patient, an alteration of Ala to Val at codon 373 (FIG. 10A-10C and Table 1). Polymorphisms in Mig-6 were also observed in lung cancer cell lines and primary lung cancers (Table 1).

Example VIII Disruption of Mig-6 in Mice Causes Lung, Gallbladder, and Bile Duct Carcinogenesis

Evidence supporting the tumor suppressor function of Mig-6 was also obtained using the Mig-6-deficient mice described herein. As discussed extensively above, disruption of the Mig-6 gene in mice by gene targeting technology resulted in early-onset degenerative joint disease (supra). Although Mig-6 was shown to be expressed in mouse lung tissue, developmental lung defects were not observed at early stages of development in Mig-6-deficient mice. (FIG. 11A-11H and Table 2). A majority of Mig-6 mutant mice die within 6 months due to the joint abnormality and its sequelae (supra). Of a total of 29 Mig-6^(−/−) mice of ages between 5 and 13 months, four cases of lung cancer were observed. One animal had an adenocarcinoma, a second animal had two adenomas in two different lobes, and two mice were observed with a single adenoma each. In addition, in the 29 homozygous animals, 11 cases of bronchi or bronchiole epithelial hyperplasia were observed (Table 2).

Statistical analysis (Fisher's exact test) revealed that the lungs from Mig-6-deficient mice had significant pathological changes, including hyperplasia and neoplasia, relative to those from the control wild-type (p=0.001398) and heterozygous (p=0.000017) mice.

TABLE 1 Summary of Mig-6 mutations identified in human lung cancer cell lines and primary lung cancer Diagnosis Nucleotide Exon Protein Mutation Type Genotype Cell lines NCI-H23 Adenocarcinoma 942 C→A 4 R244R (CGA→AGA) Polymorphism Homozygous NCI-H226 Squamous Cell Carcinoma 537 G→A 4 D109N (GAT→AAT) Missense Homozygous NCI-H322M Adenocarcinoma 459 G→T 4 E83Stop (GAA→TAA) Nonsense Homozygous Human Lung Tissues 1041190A Squamous Cell Carcinoma 1118 C→T 4 A373V (GCC→GTC) Missense Heterozygous 1041190B Normal lung tissue 1118 C→T 4 A373V (GCC→GTC) Missense Heterozygous 4030373A Adenocarcinoma 60 A→G 2 L20L (CTA→CTG); Polymorphism Heterozygous 730 C→A 4 R244R (CGA→AGA) 4030373B Normal lung tissue 60 A→G; 2 L20L (CTA→CTG); Polymorphism Heterozygous 730 C→A 4 R244R (CGA→AGA) 4030422A Squamous Cell Carcinoma 730 C→A 4 R244R (CGA→AGA) Polymorphism Heterozygous 4030422B Normal lung tissue 730 C→A 4 R244R (CGA→AGA) Polymorphism Heterozygous

TABLE 2 Lung pathologies in Mig-6 deficient and control mice between 5 and 13 months of age Mig-6^(+/+) Mig-6^(+/−) Mig-6^(−/−) (n = 17) (n = 31) (n = 29) Lung adenoma or adenocarcinoma 0 1 4 Bronchi and bronchiole epithelial 1 0 11 hyperplasia

In addition to lung cancer, gallbladder and/or bile duct neoplasms were also observed, which ranged from epithelial hyperplasia to carcinoma in several other Mig-6^(−/−) animals (FIG. 12A, 12B and Table 3). Immunohistochemical staining of the tissues for the presence of PCNA revealed increased numbers of proliferating cells within the mutant gallbladder (FIG. 12C). These results implicate a loss of Mig-6 function in lung, gallbladder, and bile duct carcinogenesis and are consistent with the evidence that Mig-6 is a tumor suppressor gene.

TABLE 3 Cases of gallbladder and bile duct carcinogenesis in Mig-6^(−/−) mice Genotype Age (months) Pathology Mig-6^(−/−) 2 Adenocarcinoma of bile ducts (low grade) 12 One adenocarcinoma and one adenoma 6.5 Adenocarcinoma of bile ducts (low grade) Mig-6^(+/−) 12 Dilatation of gallbladder 12 Cystic hyperplasia 6.5 Mild dilatation and hyperplasia of gallbladder Mig-6^(+/+) 12 Gallbladder a bit dilated and a little hyperplasia 12 Normal 6.5 Normal

Discussion of Examples IV-VIII

Mig-6 localizes in human chromosome 1p36, a locus that is known to to harbor putative tumor suppressor genes. Allelic imbalance of chromosome 1p36 is one of the most frequent genetic alterations observed in a range of human cancers (Ragnarsson et al., Br. J. Cancer 79:1468-74, 1999; Thiagalingam et al., Curr. Opin. Oncol. 14:65-72., 2002). Linkage analyses using microsatellite markers revealed deletions of 1p36 in nearly 50% of primary human lung cancers (Nomoto et al., 2000, supra). Similar results were also reported in human lung cancer cell lines, including both NSCLC and SCLC (Girard et al., Cancer Res. 60:4894-4906, 2000; Fujii et al., supra; Virmani et al., Genes Chromosomes Canc 21:308-19, 1998). The evidence indicating the presence of a tumor suppressor gene in 1p36 also comes from studies of mouse lung cancer. Loss of heterozygosity in the region of mouse chromosome 4, which is syntenic to human chromosome 1p36, has been observed frequently in spontaneous and carcinogen-induced mouse lung adenocarcinomas (Herzog et al., 1995, 2002, supra; Sargent et al., Cancer Res. 62:1152-57, 2002). The search for the responsible gene in 1p36 has not been successful. The p53 homologue, p73, is found in this locus, and has been rigorously tested. However, no mutations in the p73 gene have been identified thus far, although frequent allelic imbalances have been observed at this locus (Nomoto et al., 1998, supra). In addition, p73 expression has been found to increase rather than decrease in lung cancer (Mai et al., Cancer Res. 58:2347-49, 1998; Tokuchi et al., Br. J. Cancer 80:1623-29, 1999), and no spontaneous tumors have been observed in p73-deficient mice (Yang et al., Nature 404:99-103 2000). The foregoing all point to the presence of other unidentified tumor suppressor genes in 1p36.

For many reasons, it is plausible to consider Mig-6 as a 1p36 lung cancer tumor suppressor gene. First, it resides at 1p36.12-36.33, in the locus that is considered a hot spot of allelic imbalance for lung cancer (Fujii et al., supra; Girard et al., supra; Nomoto et al., 2000, supra). Further, as shown here, disruption of the mouse Mig-6 gene, which localizes to the 1p36 syntenic region in mouse chromosome 4, results in lung carcinogenesis (FIG. 11A-11H). Importantly, loss-of-function mutations in the Mig-6 gene in human lung cancer cell lines are disclosed herein.

Mig-6 is normally expressed in lung and plays a role in mechanical stress pulmonary ventilation (Makkinje et al., supra). Mig-6 is also a negative regulator of RTK signaling from growth factors like EGF (Fiorentino et al., supra) and HGF/SF (FIGS. 8A-8D and 9A-9C; Pante et al., J. Cell Biol. 171:337-48, 2005), the receptors for which are known to play important roles in lung malignancy (Birchmeier et al., Nat. Rev. Mol. Cell Biol. 4:915-25, 2003; Ma et al., Cancer Res. 63:6272-81, 2003; Ma et al., Cancer Res. 65:1479-88, 2005; Paez et al., Science 304:1497-1500. 2004; Stephens et al., Nature 431:525-26 2004; Zochbauer-Muller et al., supra). All this evidence supports the present conclusion that Mig-6 is a tumor suppressor gene.

Likewise, according to this invention, Mig-6 also functions as a tumor suppressor in other organs, since animals with Mig-6 deficiency also develop gallbladder and bile duct cancers (FIG. 12A-12C and Table 3). Moreover, it has recently been reported that Mig-6 expression is lost in ErbB2-amplified breast carcinomas (Anastasi et al., 2005, supra).

Like other tumor suppressor genes involved in lung carcinogenesis (Kohno et al., Carcinogenesis 20, 1403-10, 1999; Zochbauer-Muller et al., supra), the inactivation of Mig-6 may result from genetic or epigenetic changes. LOH seems to be the case for the NCI-H322M human lung adenocarcinoma cell line, which is characterized by a single nonsense point mutation in one allele of the Mig-6 gene, and deletion of the other allele (See World Wide Web URL ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sky/skyweb.cgi).

Inactivation of Mig-6 appears to involve another mechanism in NCI-H226 human lung squamous cell carcinoma cells. In addition to the missense mutation identified in the Mig-6 coding region, regulation of Mig-6 gene expression by either EGFR or Met was defective. Thus, there are at least two bases for this dysregulation of Mig-6 by receptor signaling: (1) either a deletion or other mutation occurs in the promoter regulatory region or (2) the promoter silencing is epigenetic. A similar mechanism could explain the loss of Mig-6 expression in ErbB2-amplified breast carcinomas (Anastasi et al., 2005, supra).

The present inventors considered the question of what might be the role of Mig-6 in normal lung function and during lung carcinogenesis. Mig-6 is a scaffolding protein involved in receptor signal transduction. The expression of Mig-6 is induced by EGF, whose signaling plays an important role in normal lung development (Miettinen et al., Nature 376:337-41, 1995; Miettinen et al., Dev. Biol. 186:224-36, 1997). Like many other tyrosine kinase receptors, EGF receptor signaling needs to be attenuated after activation. Constitutive activation is deleterious to normal lung epithelial cells and can lead to carcinogenesis (Paez et al., supra; Stephens et al., supra; Zochbauer-Muller et al., supra). Mig-6 interacts with the ErbB receptor family and negatively regulates EGF signaling (Fiorentino et al., supra; Anastasi et al., 2003, supra; Xu et al., supra), thereby providing, through negative feedback, a mechanism for fine-tuning EGF signaling shortly after its activation. Mig-6 deficiency caused by a mutation or failure of feedback regulation would then lead to inappropriate activation of EGF signaling and other signaling as well (such as HGF/SF-Met signaling). As described above, prolonged receptor tyrosine kinase-mediated MAPK activation occurred in Mig-6-deficient cells (FIGS. 9A and 9B).

Overexpression of Mig-6 inhibits ErbB2-mediated transformation of NIH 3T3 cells (Fiorentino et al., supra). Mig-6 would provide a checkpoint for normal cell proliferation in certain tissues, because disruption of Mig-6 led to uncontrolled proliferation of cells (as revealed by PCNA staining in gallbladder epithelium; FIG. 12A-12C) and in joint tissues (Examples I and II).

A role for Mig-6 in cell cycle regulation has also been implied, as its expression is regulated during the normal cell cycle progression (Wick et al., Exp. Cell Res. 219:527-35, 1995). Moreover, many stress stimuli also induce the expression of Mig-6, which activates SAPK/JNK (Makkinje et al., supra). SAPK/JNK activity is usually suppressed in order for transformed cells to escape SAPK/INK-dependent apoptosis and become tumorigenic (Benhar et al., EMBO Rep. 3:420-5, 2002; Davis, Cell 103:239-52, 2000). Inactivation of Mig-6 may result in an inability to induce SAPK/JNK-dependent apoptosis which would lead to immortalization of cells.

In addition, Mig-6 comprises several well-known protein-protein interaction motifs, including a Cdc42/Rac interactive binding (CRIB) domain, a Src homology 3 (SH3) domain binding motif, and a 14-3-3 interacting motif (Makkinje et al., supra). Although it is still not clear how Mig-6 interacts with its partner proteins and exerts its function during various cellular processes, based on the present results, abnormal regulation of Mig-6 reveals its activity as a tumor suppressor gene, and loss of its activity contributes to the initiation of lung carcinogenesis as well as other cancers.

The references cited above are all incorporated by reference herein, whether specifically incorporated or not.

Having now fully described this invention, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the same can be performed within a wide range of equivalent parameters, concentrations, and conditions without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without undue experimentation. 

1-27. (canceled)
 28. A method for detecting a structurally or functionally abnormal mig-6 gene in a subject, the method comprising detecting in a sample of cells, tissue or nucleic acid from said subject (a) the presence of a mutation in the coding sequence of the mig-6 gene; (b) a decrease or absence of expression of the mig-6 gene; (c) increased expression of the mig-6 gene secondary to downstream blockade in a signalling pathway in which Mig-6 is a participant; (d) the presence of a mutation or decreased activity in a promoter of the mig-6 gene; or (e) abnormal methylation of at least a part of the mig-6 gene thereby detecting a structurally or functionally abnormal mig-6 gene.
 29. The method of claim 28 wherein the presence of an abnormal mig-6 gene indicates that the subject has increased susceptibility to the development of any disease or condition associated with decreased or absent mig-6 function, compared to a subject with a structurally or functional normal mig-6 gene.
 30. The method of claim 29 wherein the presence of an abnormal mig-6 gene indicates that the subject has increased susceptibility to the development of osteoarthritis. 31-33. (canceled)
 34. The method of claim 33 wherein the nucleic acid of said sample is subject to RT-PCR prior to said detecting.
 35. The method of claim 34 wherein the RT-PCR is performed using the following primers: [SEQ ID NO: 8] (a) forward prime 5′-TCTTCCACCGTTGCCAATC-S′;

[SEQ ID NO: 9] (b) reverse primer 5′TTCCACCTCACAGTCTGTGTCAT-S′; and [SEQ H) NO: 10] (c) TaqMan Probe 5′-CTGAAGCCCTCTCTCT-3′.


36. The method of claim 28, wherein the subject is heterozygous for the mutant mig-6 gene.
 37. The method of claim 28, wherein the subject is homozygous for the mutant mig-6 gene.
 38. The method of claim 28, wherein expression of the mig-6 gene is detected using hybridization to a nucleic acid microarray.
 39. The method of claim 28, wherein expression of the mig-6 gene is detected by measuring the presence or quantity of the Mig-6 protein in the sample. 40-41. (canceled)
 42. The method of claim 28 wherein the subject is a human.
 43. A method for predicting increased susceptibility in a subject to the development of osteoarthritis comprising; sampling cells, tissue or nucleic acid from a subject; analyzing said sample of cells, tissue or nucleic acids; and detecting in said sample cells, tissue or nucleic acids the presence of a structurally or functionally abnormal mig-6 gene; wherein the detection allows for the prediction of development of osteoarthritis in the subject.
 44. The method of claim 43 wherein the detection of a mutation in the mig-6 gene from said sample indicates a structurally or functionally abnormal mig-6 gene.
 45. The method of claim 43 wherein the detection of a decrease or absence of expression of the mig-6 gene from said sample indicates a structurally or functionally abnormal mig-6 gene.
 46. The method of claim 43 wherein the detection of abnormal methylation of at least a part of the mig-6 gene from said sample indicates a structurally or functionally abnormal mig-6 gene.
 47. The method of claim 43 wherein the detection of one or more of any combination of: a) a mutation in the mig-6 gene; b) a decrease or absence of expression of the mig-6 gene; c) abnormal methylation of at least a part of the mig-6 gene; in said sample is an indication of increased susceptibility of the patient to the development of osteoarthritis.
 48. The method of claim 47 wherein said subject is a human.
 49. The method of claim 43 wherein the nucleic acid of said sample is subject to RT-PCR during said analysis.
 50. The method of claim 49 wherein the RT-PCR is performed using the following [SEQ ID NO: 8] (a) forward prime 5′-TCTTCCACCGTTGCCAATC-S′;

[SEQ ID NO: 9] (b) reverse primer 5′-TTCCACCTCACAGTCTGTGTCAT-S′; and [SEQ H) NO: 10] (c) TaqMan Probe 5′-CTGAAGCCCTCTCTCT-3′.


51. The method of claim 44, wherein the subject is heterozygous for the mutant mig-6 gene.
 52. The method of claim 44, wherein the subject is homozygous for the mutant mig-6 gene.
 53. The method of claim 45, wherein expression of the mig-6 gene is detected using hybridization to a nucleic acid microarray.
 54. The method of claim 45, wherein expression of the mig-6 gene is detected by measuring the presence or quantity of the Mig-6 protein in the sample. 